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
As Apple, Google and regulators tighten the screws on user tracking, marketers are shifting toward first-party data (59%), contextual targeting (58%) and broader targeting strategies.
—
Boris Abaev, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
More recently, the Trump administration has proceeded to tighten the screws on borrowers.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
The Trump administration seeks to tighten the screws on the Cuban regime at a critical juncture for the Communist-run island.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025
In the case of Iran, the United States was able to tighten the screws by pressuring foreign firms to stop dealing with the country.
—Eric Lorber, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2014
See All Example Sentences for tighten the screws
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Boris Abaev, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
More recently, the Trump administration has proceeded to tighten the screws on borrowers.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
The Trump administration seeks to tighten the screws on the Cuban regime at a critical juncture for the Communist-run island.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025
In the case of Iran, the United States was able to tighten the screws by pressuring foreign firms to stop dealing with the country.
—Eric Lorber, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2014
See All Example Sentences for tighten the screws
Cite this Entry
“Tighten the screws.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tighten%20the%20screws. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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