tighten the screws

Idioms  

1. see under turn up the heat.

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Example Sentences

“Now we get a couple of days to kind of regroup and tighten the screws up and go back into an environment we just ended in and try to get our first win.”

From Los Angeles Times

His business has since ramped up, drawing in more and more clients as companies tighten the screws on return-to-office mandates.

From Seattle Times

The rebound came as the market was also bolstered by data on hiring that was deemed strong enough to soften concerns about a recession without prompting the Federal Reserve to tighten the screws on the economy further.

From New York Times

All banks are contending with much higher interest rates, which have flown higher over the past year to tighten the screws on the economy and financial markets.

From Seattle Times

Stocks fell after the Federal Reserve announced its latest hike to interest rates, while also saying it may not tighten the screws much more on the economy.

From Seattle Times