put the screws on someone
put the screws on (one)
To exert excessive and coercive pressure, force, or threats of violence on one. The bank has really started putting the screws on me ever since I began missing my mortgage payments. I'll send one of my strong men around to him tomorrow to put the screws on him. Then we'll see if he's still so sure he won't sign the contract.
See also: on, put, screw
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
put the screws on someone
INFORMALIf someone puts the screws on you, they use pressure or threats to make you do what they want. They had to put the screws on Harper. So far, he was the only person who might know something. Note: This is a reference to a method of torture called the thumbscrew; see the explanation at `turn the screw on someone'.
See also: on, put, screw, someone
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
put the screws on someone
and put the heat on someone and put the squeeze on someone tv. to pressure someone; to threaten someone to achieve something. He told everything about the plan when they put the screws on him. The cops put the heat on him to try to make him talk.
See also: on, put, screw, someone
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- put the screws on
- put the screws on (one)
- put the screws to (someone)
- put the screws
- tighten the screw
- tighten the screw(s) (on one)
- tighten the screws
- tighten the screws on (one)
- turn the screw on someone
- turn the screw(s) (on someone)