Idiom/Phrase: Put the screws on
- (a)Forcing someone to do what you want
- (b)Never letting go of things
- (c)Keep the past alive
- (d)Using someone's trick for own benefit
Answer
A
Why
Correct — A, forcing someone to do what you want. 'To put the screws on someone' means to pressurise or coerce a person into doing something, as if tightening a vice on them.
Why the others are wrong
- (b)Never letting go of things — Unrelated — the idiom is about applying pressure, not clinging to possessions.
- (c)Keep the past alive — Unrelated to the sense of coercion.
- (d)Using someone's trick for own benefit — Unrelated — the phrase is about exerting pressure, not turning tricks back on people.
Concept
An idiom-meaning item — 'put the screws on' means to pressurise or coerce someone into acting.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
'Twist someone's arm' means:
- (a)physically injure them
- (b)persuade or pressurise them
- (c)shake hands warmly
- (d)ignore them
Answer(b) persuade or pressurise them — to strongly push someone into doing something.
- practice — not a real PYQ
'Lean on someone' (in the idiomatic sense) means:
- (a)rest against them
- (b)pressurise or intimidate them
- (c)trust them fully
- (d)walk beside them
Answer(b) pressurise or intimidate them — to apply pressure to get one's way.