twist someone's arm

idiom

Meaning

To encourage or pressure someone to do something that they don't want to.

Examples

SIMPLE

I did not want to go, but you twisted my arm.

CONTEXTUAL

I was planning to stay home tonight, but my friends twisted my arm until I agreed to go to the cinema.

COMPLEX

The manager had to twist his arm to get him to work on the weekend, eventually offering him an extra day of holiday as a reward.

Last updated July 14, 2026