tighten the noose
phrase
: to make a situation more difficult for someone
The new tougher penalties will tighten the noose on traffic offenders.
They tightened the noose around the enemy by cutting the supply lines.
Cite this Entry
“Tighten the noose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tighten%20the%20noose. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
