put the heat on

put the heat on (one)

1. To pressure one to do something. We need to put the heat on those guys so that they finally pay their debt to us.
2. To force an opponent to work harder. You can expect them to start putting the heat on us in the second half, so don't come out sleeping.
See also: heat, on, put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

put the heat on (someone)

 and put the screws on (someone); put the squeeze on (someone); put the heat on; put the screws on; put the squeeze on
Sl. to put pressure on someone (to do something); to coerce someone. John wouldn't talk, so the police were putting the heat on him to confess. When my boss puts the screws on, he can be very unpleasant. The police know how to put the squeeze on.
See also: heat, on, put
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • put the heat on (one)
  • put the heat on someone
  • stand the test of time
  • survive the test of time
  • withstand
  • withstand the test of time
  • the old one-two
  • old one-two
  • buck up (one's) ideas
  • buck your ideas up