Dokręcać śrubę
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What it means
“To tighten the screw.” To increase pressure on someone, to make conditions harder or stricter — to turn the screws on someone.
Vocabulary
- dokręcać — to tighten (imperfective)
- śruba — screw
Grammar note
'Śrubę' is accusative of 'śruba'. The perfective 'dokręcić śrubę' refers to a single act of tightening; the imperfective implies ongoing pressure.
Cultural context
Used in workplace, political, and personal contexts. 'Dokręcają nam śrubę' — they're tightening the screws on us.
Intermediate
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