# turn the screw

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/turn-the-screw
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To increase the pressure of a situation.

## Examples

- 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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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.