turn up the heat on someone
turn up the heat (on someone or something)
1. To pressure someone to do something. We need to turn up the heat on those guys so that they finally pay their debt to us. A: "The suspect still isn't saying anything." B: "OK, let's turn up the heat."
2. To start to do something with more determination or intensity. Wow, they really turned up the heat on their opponents in the second half. The company started turning up the heat with its expansion into the mobile phone market.
See also: heat, someone, turn, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
turn up the heat on someone
COMMON If you turn up the heat on a person or situation, you make a situation more serious or difficult by putting pressure on people. The firm will be turning up the heat on its rivals. Note: You can also just say that someone turns up the heat. The tax office has turned up the heat in the illegal payments controversy. Note: People sometimes say that one person turns the heat on another. Jansen turned the heat on Celtic last night by promising to return to the club — if they get rid of the present manager first.
See also: heat, on, someone, turn, up
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- encumber
- encumber (someone or something) with (something)
- encumber with
- haul before
- take (someone or something) back to (someone or some place)
- take back to
- go down fighting
- go down with guns firing
- I suspect so
- haul over to