screw off
To fail to do one's work; to goof off.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Stop screwing off and finish your homework.”
“The manager got angry because the employees were screwing off instead of helping the customers.”
“Despite the looming deadline, the team continued to screw off, seemingly indifferent to the professional consequences of their negligence.”
- 01
put the screws
To apply pressure and coercion.
- 02
screw it
Expression of frustration or contempt.
- 03
screw the pooch
to make a large mistake, to fail in dramatic and ignominious fashion.
- 04
screw this
A much less offensive version of fuck this.
- 05
screw you
less offensive version of fuck you.
- 06
screwed up
Morally reprehensible; clearly and grossly objectionable.
- 07
screwed, blued and tattooed
Placed in a perplexing, very difficult situation, especially a situation in which one has been unjustly victimized.
- 08
turn of the screw
One step in a gradual imposition of restrictions.
Last updated August 10, 2026