arm-twisting

American

[ahrm-twis-ting] / ˈɑrmˌtwɪs tɪŋ /

Or armtwisting

noun

the use of threat, coercion, or other forms of pressure and persuasion to achieve one's purpose.

It took a lot of arm-twisting but he finally agreed to work this weekend.

Etymology

Origin of arm-twisting

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This time, it appears, no U.S. arm-twisting will be needed.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2025

And arm-twisting ByteDance will not work, analysts say.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2024

But in this case, the means of control is not legislation but behind-the scenes arm-twisting and threatened legal reprisals by government officials.

From Slate • Nov. 13, 2023

“He was very good at making it in people’s interests to be cooperating with him. I don’t know if he did arm-twisting exactly. It was implicit, I would say.”

From Salon • Oct. 12, 2023

But King needed time to reflect and strategize without Johnson’s notorious arm-twisting.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023