tighten the screws
see under turn up the heat.
QUIZZES
CAN YOU ACE THIS QUIZ ABOUT “COMPLIMENT” VS. “COMPLEMENT”?
Take this quiz to see if you really know the difference between “compliment” and “complement"!
Question 1 of 11
“Compliment” and “complement” had a shared meaning a long time ago, but today they are no longer interchangeable.
Words nearby tighten the screws
tight-money policy, tight-mouthed, tightass, tighten, tighten one's belt, tighten the screws, tightfisted, tightfitting, tightknit, tightrope, tightrope walker
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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