thumbscrew

/'θʌmskru:/

Thân thiện

A carpenter tightens a thumbscrew to secure a wooden panel.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A screw designed to be turned with the thumb and fingers: A type of screw with a head shaped to allow easy turning by hand, without the need for a tool.
   • An instrument of torture that crushes the thumb: A historical torture device consisting of a metal apparatus that applies extreme pressure to a person's thumbs.

Examples

• Noun (Tool):
  • The small clamp was secured with a simple thumbscrew.
  • Adjust the focus using the thumbscrew on the side of the binoculars.
• Noun (Torture Device):
  • The museum displayed a medieval thumbscrew used for interrogation.
  • The threat of the thumbscrew was enough to make the prisoner talk.

Advanced Usage

• "to apply the thumbscrew(s)": To apply pressure or use coercive tactics to force someone to do something. This is a figurative extension from the torture device.
  • The creditors began to apply the thumbscrews to get their money back.

Variants and Related Words

• Thumbnut: A type of nut designed to be tightened by hand, similar in function to the tool meaning of a thumbscrew.

Synonyms

• For the tool: Wing screw, hand screw, finger screw.
• For the torture device: Torture instrument, thumbkin.

Related Phrases

• "to tighten the thumbscrews": To increase pressure on someone, typically to force action or compliance.
  • Management is tightening the thumbscrews to meet the quarterly targets.

Học thuật

Noun

1. screw designed to be turned with the thumb and fingers
2. instrument of torture that crushes the thumb