tighten the screws
idiom
informal
: to put more pressure on someone or something to do something
We need to tighten the screws on people who've been evading the tax.
Examples of tighten the screws in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But Miami needs to find a run-stuffing inside linebacker who can help the defense tighten the screws.
—
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
If confirmed, as is widely expected, Rubio will be perfectly situated to further tighten the screws on Cuba perhaps to the island’s breaking point.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024
But rates are already at a sky-high 21%, meaning additional increases would tighten the screws even more on Russia’s economy.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Nov. 2024
And the return of Trump to the White House could tip the scales even further toward Singapore, as the incoming president threatens to tighten the screws on China.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 27 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tighten the screws
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Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
If confirmed, as is widely expected, Rubio will be perfectly situated to further tighten the screws on Cuba perhaps to the island’s breaking point.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024
But rates are already at a sky-high 21%, meaning additional increases would tighten the screws even more on Russia’s economy.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Nov. 2024
And the return of Trump to the White House could tip the scales even further toward Singapore, as the incoming president threatens to tighten the screws on China.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 27 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tighten the screws
Cite this Entry
“Tighten the screws.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tighten%20the%20screws. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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