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  What it means

  Literally “to tighten the screw,” this idiom means to increase pressure on someone, to tighten the screws, or to make conditions stricter. It describes a situation where an authority — a boss, a government, a creditor — turns up the pressure or imposes tougher demands. The image comes from a screw being tightened to hold things down more firmly. It often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying that the pressure is unwelcome.

  Vocabulary

  • dokręcić — to tighten fully, to screw in (perfective)
  • śruba — screw, bolt
  • śrubę — screw (accusative case of 'śruba')
  • przykręcić śrubę — alternative form meaning the same thing

  Grammar note

  The verb 'dokręcić' is perfective, marking a decisive single act of tightening. The noun 'śruba' is in the accusative case as the direct object. The phrase can also appear as 'przykręcić śrubę' (to screw on tighter), which is an interchangeable variant with the same meaning.

  Cultural context

  This phrase is informal to colloquial and is often heard in the context of workplace relations, politics, or financial pressure. It is very common in Polish journalism when describing a government crackdown or an employer increasing demands. The English equivalent is 'to tighten the screws on someone.'

  Intermediate

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