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

1. apply great or increased pressure
   • The Democrats turned up the heat on their candidate to concede the election