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
All this means the West should not be afraid to tighten the screws.
—
Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023
Pam Goodman's dad taught her not to tighten the screws in her furniture until everything was aligned.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 14 June 2024
The case demonstrates the extent of the U.S. commitment to tighten the screws on those seen as aiding Russian elites, even if they themselves are not closely tied to the Kremlin.
—Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024
But after achieving payment parity between MA and traditional Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has continued to tighten the screws on MA plans.
—Avik Roy, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tighten the screws 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023
Pam Goodman's dad taught her not to tighten the screws in her furniture until everything was aligned.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 14 June 2024
The case demonstrates the extent of the U.S. commitment to tighten the screws on those seen as aiding Russian elites, even if they themselves are not closely tied to the Kremlin.
—Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024
But after achieving payment parity between MA and traditional Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has continued to tighten the screws on MA plans.
—Avik Roy, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tighten the screws
Dictionary Entries Near 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 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share