tighten the screws
see under turn up the heat.
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9 Synonyms For “Screwing Up”We’ve all had moments where we’ve really and truly screwed something up. An epic mistake (OK, maybe not on a historic, global scale like the February 26, 2017 Oscars). But still, we’re human, and mistakes do happen. There are a lot of words to describe things going south in a hurry. We’ve gathered a few here. You’ll notice they’re all very close in definition. Maybe …
Nearby words
tight-money policy, tight-mouthed, tightass, tighten, tighten one's belt, tighten the screws, tightfisted, tightfitting, tightknit, tightly, tightrope
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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