Screw
noun
A metal pin with a raised twisted part and a sharp end used for fastening things together.
The shelf is fixed to the wall with screws.
Often appears as...
- tighten a screw
- loosen a screw
verb
To use a screw to fasten something to something else.
I screwed the hinges onto the door.
Often appears as...
- screw something in
- screw something tight
verb
To turn something in a circular motion, like you do with a screw.
He screwed the lid onto the jar.
Often appears as...
- screw the lid on
- screw the cap back
verb
In informal English, to cheat or treat someone unfairly.
They screwed me out of my bonus.
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
In prison slang, a prison officer or guard.
He had a run-in with the screws.
Usage tips
Slang, Disapproving
Idiomatic
verb
To apply pressure or use influence on someone to make them agree to something.
His arm was twisted to screw him into signing the deal.
Often appears as...
- screw someone into agreement
- screw someone into submission
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
noun
A metal pin with a raised twisted part and a sharp end used for fastening things together.
The shelf is fixed to the wall with screws.
Often appears as...
- tighten a screw
- loosen a screw
verb
To use a screw to fasten something to something else.
I screwed the hinges onto the door.
Often appears as...
- screw something in
- screw something tight
verb
To turn something in a circular motion, like you do with a screw.
He screwed the lid onto the jar.
Often appears as...
- screw the lid on
- screw the cap back
verb
In informal English, to cheat or treat someone unfairly.
They screwed me out of my bonus.
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
In prison slang, a prison officer or guard.
He had a run-in with the screws.
Usage tips
Slang, Disapproving
Idiomatic
verb
To apply pressure or use influence on someone to make them agree to something.
His arm was twisted to screw him into signing the deal.
Often appears as...
- screw someone into agreement
- screw someone into submission
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 6
Pro Tip 1/2Types of Screws
There are various types such as wood screws, machine screws, and set screws, each with a specific use.
Make sure you choose the right type of screw for this material.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Always Metal
While typically metal, screws are also made with plastic for certain uses.
You'll need plastic screws for this DIY plastic shelf.
Pro Tip 1/2Types of Screws
There are various types such as wood screws, machine screws, and set screws, each with a specific use.
Make sure you choose the right type of screw for this material.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Always Metal
While typically metal, screws are also made with plastic for certain uses.
You'll need plastic screws for this DIY plastic shelf.
Pro Tip 1/2Types of Screws
There are various types such as wood screws, machine screws, and set screws, each with a specific use.
Make sure you choose the right type of screw for this material.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Always Metal
While typically metal, screws are also made with plastic for certain uses.
You'll need plastic screws for this DIY plastic shelf.
Never forget "Screw"
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Video examples
Give yourself permission...
And he said, "That's my job. I'm a poet, and I'm going to play the fool. Most people have to go to work all day long, and they come home and they fight with their spouse, and they eat, and they turn on the old boob tube, and somebody tries to sell them something, and I just screwed all that up.
Video examples
The art of responsibility...
if you were meant to have holes in your ears you would have been born with them remember screw back I know I'm gonna wear them for a year so I had a regroup I went back and I thought okay how can I make this value-added yeah I said aha my sister Denise so I went to Denise and I
Video examples
This could be why you're...
but actually, it had perfectly understandable causes in his life. One of the doctors, talking to the people in the community, figured, "You know, if we bought this guy a cow, he could become a dairy farmer, he wouldn't be in this position that was screwing him up so much,
Video examples
Human sperm vs. the...
they wind them like a cork screw. Just as a cork screw on a wine bottle converts winding motion into forward motion, these tiny creatures spin their helical tails to push themselves forward in a world where water feels as thick as cork. Other strategies are even stranger.
Video examples
Jeff Bezos: The...
And this was a big deal. You'd keep this on your porch. It was a little bit messy and kind of a pain. And you'd run a long cord into the house where you could screw it into your light socket. And that's actually kind of an important point in my presentation,
Video examples
Prison Predators PIPE...
let him know I'm there after offering a friendship and protection then he turns the screws Albert will take the inmate into a cell or empty stairwell and demand payment money gifts or service if he refuses it gets ugly
Video examples
The myth of Pandora’s...
which settled in her spirit and sent her eagerly out into the world. The second was a heavy box, ornately curved, heavy to hold – and screwed tightly shut. But the contents, Zeus told her, were not for mortal eyes.
Video examples
How to Raise Successful...
we spend so much time nudging, cajoling, hinting, helping, haggling, nagging as the case may be, to be sure they're not screwing up, not closing doors, not ruining their future, some hoped-for admission
Video examples
How a Woman's Donated...
breast cancer melanoma the cervical screws and wires and a replaced hip that's what I told her I said interested but she was persistent we'll scroll
Video examples
The Planet Earth...
appetite screw the mother must work tirelessly to raise her family only fat healthy Cubs will survive the Arctic winter
Video examples
Give yourself permission...
And he said, "That's my job. I'm a poet, and I'm going to play the fool. Most people have to go to work all day long, and they come home and they fight with their spouse, and they eat, and they turn on the old boob tube, and somebody tries to sell them something, and I just screwed all that up.
Video examples
The art of responsibility...
if you were meant to have holes in your ears you would have been born with them remember screw back I know I'm gonna wear them for a year so I had a regroup I went back and I thought okay how can I make this value-added yeah I said aha my sister Denise so I went to Denise and I
Video examples
This could be why you're...
but actually, it had perfectly understandable causes in his life. One of the doctors, talking to the people in the community, figured, "You know, if we bought this guy a cow, he could become a dairy farmer, he wouldn't be in this position that was screwing him up so much,
Video examples
Human sperm vs. the...
they wind them like a cork screw. Just as a cork screw on a wine bottle converts winding motion into forward motion, these tiny creatures spin their helical tails to push themselves forward in a world where water feels as thick as cork. Other strategies are even stranger.
Video examples
Jeff Bezos: The...
And this was a big deal. You'd keep this on your porch. It was a little bit messy and kind of a pain. And you'd run a long cord into the house where you could screw it into your light socket. And that's actually kind of an important point in my presentation,
Video examples
Prison Predators PIPE...
let him know I'm there after offering a friendship and protection then he turns the screws Albert will take the inmate into a cell or empty stairwell and demand payment money gifts or service if he refuses it gets ugly
Video examples
The myth of Pandora’s...
which settled in her spirit and sent her eagerly out into the world. The second was a heavy box, ornately curved, heavy to hold – and screwed tightly shut. But the contents, Zeus told her, were not for mortal eyes.
Video examples
How to Raise Successful...
we spend so much time nudging, cajoling, hinting, helping, haggling, nagging as the case may be, to be sure they're not screwing up, not closing doors, not ruining their future, some hoped-for admission
Video examples
How a Woman's Donated...
breast cancer melanoma the cervical screws and wires and a replaced hip that's what I told her I said interested but she was persistent we'll scroll
Video examples
The Planet Earth...
appetite screw the mother must work tirelessly to raise her family only fat healthy Cubs will survive the Arctic winter
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Terry Pratchett
English Author
For an author, the nice characters aren't much fun. What you want are the screwed up characters. You know, the characters that are constantly wondering if what they are doing is the right thing, characters that are not only screwed up but are self-tapping screws. They're doing it for themselves.
Quote examples
Jake Johnson
American Actor
I think you can meet the right girl at the wrong time, and it gets screwed up. If you meet the right girl at the wrong time, that girl has to be the most understanding person in the world because there's going to be a lot more bumps in the road.
Quote examples
John Madden
American Entertainer
Knowing his coach likes him is more important to a player than anything else. To me, it was important to be able to chew out a player for screwing up and for him to accept it because he knew I liked him anyway.
Quote examples
Henry Paulson
American Public Servant
I don't know anyone that says, 'Boy, I had a great career, and I'm happy because I screwed up my life outside of my career, my family life.' There's no one that feels that way.
Quote examples
Jake Gyllenhaal
American Actor
I think as an actor you have to be open to your emotions - that's how you tap into other characters. Besides, by being so open I've come to terms with how screwed I am!
Quote examples
Goldust
American Wrestler
It took me a long time to get my life screwed up, and it's going to take a long time to get it back.
Quote examples
Anushka Sharma
Indian Actress
If I lead my life according to someone else, I've screwed my life up.
Quote examples
Janet Evanovich
American Writer
There are some men who enter a woman's life and screw it up forever.
Quote examples
Nadya Suleman
American Celebrity
I screwed up my life. I screwed up my kids' lives.
Quote examples
Quentin Crisp
English Writer
Men get laid, but women get screwed.
Quote examples
Terry Pratchett
English Author
For an author, the nice characters aren't much fun. What you want are the screwed up characters. You know, the characters that are constantly wondering if what they are doing is the right thing, characters that are not only screwed up but are self-tapping screws. They're doing it for themselves.
Quote examples
Jake Johnson
American Actor
I think you can meet the right girl at the wrong time, and it gets screwed up. If you meet the right girl at the wrong time, that girl has to be the most understanding person in the world because there's going to be a lot more bumps in the road.
Quote examples
John Madden
American Entertainer
Knowing his coach likes him is more important to a player than anything else. To me, it was important to be able to chew out a player for screwing up and for him to accept it because he knew I liked him anyway.
Quote examples
Henry Paulson
American Public Servant
I don't know anyone that says, 'Boy, I had a great career, and I'm happy because I screwed up my life outside of my career, my family life.' There's no one that feels that way.
Quote examples
Jake Gyllenhaal
American Actor
I think as an actor you have to be open to your emotions - that's how you tap into other characters. Besides, by being so open I've come to terms with how screwed I am!
Quote examples
Goldust
American Wrestler
It took me a long time to get my life screwed up, and it's going to take a long time to get it back.
Quote examples
Anushka Sharma
Indian Actress
If I lead my life according to someone else, I've screwed my life up.
Quote examples
Janet Evanovich
American Writer
There are some men who enter a woman's life and screw it up forever.
Quote examples
Nadya Suleman
American Celebrity
I screwed up my life. I screwed up my kids' lives.
Quote examples
Quentin Crisp
English Writer
Men get laid, but women get screwed.
Example 1 of 10
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