turn up the pressure
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb phrase: - To apply greater or increased force, influence, or demands on someone or something in order to achieve a desired result. It often implies intensifying efforts to make a situation more urgent or to compel action.
Usage
This phrase is used to describe the act of making a situation more intense, urgent, or demanding. It is commonly applied in contexts involving persuasion, negotiation, competition, or enforcement. - It is a transitive verb phrase and typically requires an object (e.g., turn up the pressure on someone/something). - It often carries a connotation of applying stress or coercion.
Examples
- The management decided to turn up the pressure on the striking workers by threatening layoffs.
- In the final minutes of the game, the home team turned up the pressure on their opponents' defense.
- To meet the deadline, the editor turned up the pressure on the writing staff.
Advanced Usage
- "to turn up the heat": This is a very common synonym with identical meaning and usage. The reference context demonstrates this equivalence: "The Democrats turned up the heat on their candidate..."
- Investors turned up the heat on the company's board to sell the underperforming division.
Variants and Related Words
- Pressure (n): The continuous physical or mental force, influence, or burden being applied.
- Heat (n, informal): Intense pressure, criticism, or scrutiny. (As used in the synonymous phrase "turn up the heat").
Synonyms
- Intensify pressure: To increase the level of force or demand.
- Increase the heat: (Informal) To make conditions more stressful or demanding.
- Apply more force: To exert greater strength or influence.
- Crank up the pressure: (Informal) To significantly increase demands or intensity.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Idioms
- Turn up the heat: An idiomatic phrase meaning exactly the same as "turn up the pressure." It is frequently used in political, business, and sports contexts.
- The prosecutor turned up the heat on the witness during cross-examination.
- Put the screws on (someone): (Idiom) To pressure someone very strongly, often in an unpleasant or forceful way.
- The loan shark was putting the screws on him to repay the debt.
- Lean on (someone): (Phrasal verb) To pressure or try to persuade someone, sometimes forcefully.
- The boss is leaning on the team to finish the project early.
Verb
- apply great or increased pressure
- The Democrats turned up the heat on their candidate to concede the election