Turn up the heat on


Also, put the heat or screws or squeeze on; tighten the screws on. Pressure someone, as in The cops turned up the heat on drivers who show signs of drunkenness, or They said they’d tighten the screws on her if she didn’t confess. All of these slangy terms allude to forms of physical coercion or torture. The first dates from about 1930, the variants using screws from the mid-1800s, and squeeze from the late 1700s.

Read Also:

  • Turn up trumps

    End well, succeed, as in Some brief courtships and hasty marriages turn up trumps. This expression alludes to card games in which trump cards are superior to cards of other suits. [ Late 1700s ]

  • Turnverein

    noun 1. an athletic club, especially of gymnasts.

  • Turophile

    noun 1. a connoisseur or lover of cheese.

  • Turp

    noun acronym 1. (surgery) transurethral resection of the prostate: a surgical procedure in which an electronic cutting implement is fed through the urethra to remove part of an enlarged prostate TURP transurethral resection of prostrate

  • Turpentine

    noun 1. any of various oleoresins derived from coniferous trees, especially the longleaf pine, Pinus palustris, and yielding a volatile oil and a resin when distilled. 2. Also called Chian turpentine. an oleoresin exuded by the terebinth, Pistacia terebinthus. 3. oil of turpentine. verb (used with object), turpentined, turpentining. 4. to treat with turpentine; apply […]


Disclaimer: Turn up the heat on definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.