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Phrases related to: put the screws

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a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go downAn otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.Rate it:

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adopt outTo expel a child from a family by placing them for adoption; to put a child up for adoption privately, without going through an adoption agency.Rate it:

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airs and gracesTo act in a pretentious or pompous manner; to put on airs and graces, derogatory term for one acting above their social status.Rate it:

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alicui acceptum referre aliquid (Verr. 2. 70. 170)to put down to a man's credit.Rate it:

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alicui expensum ferre aliquidto put a thing down to a man's account.Rate it:

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aliquid in aliud tempus, in posterum differreto put off till another time; to postpone.Rate it:

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animum alicuius ad laetitiam excitareto put a man in a pleasurable frame of mind.Rate it:

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apply oneselfTo put forth a concerted effort; to try; to focus.Rate it:

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arbitrio alicuius omnia permittereto put the matter entirely in some one's hands.Rate it:

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backfootTo put on the defensive; to put off balance.Rate it:

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balance the booksTo put or keep any closed or conservative system or its analysis in balance.Rate it:

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be a manTo put up with something or take responsibility for it; to deal with something, such as pain or misfortune, without complaining.Rate it:

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bed downTo put an animal to rest for the night.Rate it:

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beggars cannot be choosersDeserving people cannot put forward their choices. You cannot be concerned about the quality or quantity of certain product or service that you cannot buy or get hold of easily.Rate it:

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belli finem facere, bellum finireto put an end to war.Rate it:

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bene interrogareto cross-examine cleverly, put leading questions.Rate it:

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bet outTo be the first in a round to put money in the pot.Rate it:

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black upTo put on blackface makeup.Rate it:

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bottle upPut into bottles.Rate it:

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brave outTo tolerate or put up with bravelyRate it:

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break a sweatTo put effort into something.Rate it:

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buckle downTo put forth the needed effort; to focus; become serious; apply oneself.Rate it:

(4.50 / 8 votes)
build on sandTo put something in an unstable position by failing to give it a secure foundation.Rate it:

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bundle upTo put into a bundle.Rate it:

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bundle upTo dress in, or put on, warm clothes.Rate it:

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bust a nutto work very hard, put in a lot of effortRate it:

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bust one's assTo work very hard, to put in a lot of effort.Rate it:

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bust one's ballsto work very hard; to put in a lot of effort.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
calcaria subdere equoto put spurs to a horse.Rate it:

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calcaribus equum concitareto put spurs to a horse.Rate it:

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can itTo silence; to quit doing something; to put an end to something.Rate it:

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can't put the words back into one's mouth fast enoughThis phrase is often said after someone said something they shouldn't have said as a way of conveying regret for having said it.Rate it:

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candle in the windA fragile or vulnerable thing, likely to be put in jeopardy.Rate it:

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capita conferre (Liv. 2. 45)to put our heads together.Rate it:

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casual expressiona word in the dictionary that has an alternate definition than the dictionary definition or a phrase that means something different than its words put together would literally mean when put togetherRate it:

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catch outTo put a batsman out by catching the batted ball before it touches the ground.Rate it:

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causam interponere or interserereto interpose, put forward an argument, a reason.Rate it:

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chain upTo put in chainsRate it:

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check is in the mailA common excuse used by debtors to put off creditors.Rate it:

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chip inTo put a chip shot in the hole.Rate it:

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chip inTo put into the pot the amount of chips or money required to continue.Rate it:

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circle backTo revisit a topic, concept or idea after having put it on the back burner; to return to a place or locationRate it:

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clamp down onTo take measures to stop something; to put an end to.Rate it:

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cobble togetherTo put together without adequate preparation or equipment; to improvise minimally usable.Rate it:

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collect upTo find and put together in the same place.Rate it:

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companyIt took six companies to put out the fire.Rate it:

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confidere alicui (but aliqua re)to put confidence in some one.Rate it:

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consilii mei copiam facio tibiI put myself at your disposal as regards advice.Rate it:

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controversiam sedare, dirimere, componere, tollereto put an end to, settle a dispute.Rate it:

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cowboy upTo put on a more heterosexual manner, in order to fit in.Rate it:

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