# screw

/ˈskɹu/ (US) · /skɹˈuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/screw
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. metal fastener

noun · CEFR A2

a thin, pointed piece of metal with a raised spiral line around it, used to join things together.

For teachers: a metal fastener with a helical thread, designed to be driven into surfaces by rotation.

- He used a screwdriver to tighten the loose screw in the door handle.
- The carpenter selected a wood screw with a countersunk head to ensure a flush finish on the cabinet door.

### 2. prison guard

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for a prison guard.

For teachers: a derogatory slang term for a prison officer or guard.

- The inmates waited for the screw to finish his rounds before they started talking.
- In the gritty prison drama, the protagonist frequently clashes with a particularly corrupt screw who controls the cell block.

### 3. to fasten

verb · CEFR A2

to fasten or tighten something by turning it.

For teachers: to attach, tighten, or adjust by means of a screw or a twisting motion.

- Make sure you screw the lid on tightly so the milk doesn't spill.
- The technician had to screw the mounting bracket into the wall before the heavy monitor could be safely attached.

### 4. to cheat or unfair treatment

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to treat someone unfairly or cheat them out of something.

For teachers: to cheat, deceive, or treat someone with gross unfairness, especially in a financial or professional context.

- The company really screwed its employees by cutting their pensions without warning.
- He felt the dealership had screwed him over by hiding the car's mechanical history until after the contract was signed.

### 5. expression of dismissal

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · Vulgar

a rude way to say you do not care about someone or something.

For teachers: used in the imperative to express contemptuous dismissal or total lack of concern for the subject.

- Screw this, I'm going home because nobody is listening to my ideas anyway.
- After months of unpaid overtime, she finally decided, 'Screw it,' and handed in her resignation without a backup plan.

### 6. to have sex

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar

a vulgar word for having sex.

For teachers: to engage in sexual intercourse; widely considered vulgar and inappropriate for polite conversation.

- They were caught screwing in the back of the car.
- The film was rated R primarily due to several graphic scenes of the characters screwing.

### 7. to contort the face

verb · CEFR B2

to twist your face into an expression of dislike or effort.

For teachers: to contort or twist one's facial features, typically to express distaste, concentration, or pain.

- The child screwed up his face when he tasted the sour lemon.
- She screwed her eyes shut, trying to remember the exact sequence of events from the night before.

## Examples

- He uses a screw to fix the shelf.
- You'll need a Phillips head screw for this part, not a flathead one, to assemble the bookcase.
- The antique clock's mechanism was held together by a single, tiny brass screw, a testament to the precision of its long-forgotten maker.

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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.