tighten the screws

idiom

informal

: to put more pressure on someone or something to do something

We need to tighten the screws on people who've been evading the tax.

Examples of tighten the screws in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

All this means the West should not be afraid to tighten the screws. —

Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023 Pam Goodman's dad taught her not to tighten the screws in her furniture until everything was aligned. —

Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 14 June 2024 The case demonstrates the extent of the U.S. commitment to tighten the screws on those seen as aiding Russian elites, even if they themselves are not closely tied to the Kremlin. —

Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 But after achieving payment parity between MA and traditional Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has continued to tighten the screws on MA plans. —

Avik Roy, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tighten the screws

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“Tighten the screws.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tighten%20the%20screws. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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