turn the screw
To increase the pressure of a situation.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The boss turns the screw to make us work faster.”
“The bank decided to turn the screw by raising interest rates, making it much harder for the small business to pay back its loans.”
“By restricting the supply of essential materials, the government continued to turn the screw on the opposition, forcing them to accept the unfavorable terms of the agreement.”
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Buggins's turn
A humorous, disparaging term for the appointment of a person by rotation or promotion, on the basis of length of service (it being that person's "turn") rather than merit or level of qualification.
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everything one touches turns to gold
Everything someone uses or does succeeds or becomes better.
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everything one touches turns to shit
Everything someone uses or does fails or becomes worse.
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good turn
A good deed; a thoughtful or selfless act.
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left turn
An unexpected change from the way things seemed to be going.
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poacher turned gamekeeper
A person now charged with protecting what they formerly preyed upon.
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put the screws
To apply pressure and coercion.
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screw it
Expression of frustration or contempt.
Last updated August 10, 2026