Found 1 items, similar to To screw up.
English → English (gcide) Definition: To screw up Screw \Screw\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Screwed; p. pr. & vb. n. Screwing.] 1. To turn, as a screw; to apply a screw to; to press, fasten, or make firm, by means of a screw or screws; as, to screw a lock on a door; to screw a press. [1913 Webster] 2. To force; to squeeze; to press, as by screws. [1913 Webster] But screw your courage to the sticking place, And we'll not fail. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. Hence: To practice extortion upon; to oppress by unreasonable or extortionate exactions. [1913 Webster] Our country landlords, by unmeasurable screwing and racking their tenants, have already reduced the miserable people to a worse condition than the peasants in France. --swift. [1913 Webster] 4. To twist; to distort; as, to screw his visage. [1913 Webster] He screwed his face into a hardened smile. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 5. To examine rigidly, as a student; to subject to a severe examination. [Cant, American Colleges] [1913 Webster] To screw out, to press out; to extort. To screw up, (a) to force; to bring by violent pressure. --Howell. (b) to damage by unskillful effort; to bungle; to botch; to mess up. (c) [intrans] to fail by unskillful effort, usu. causing unpleasant consequences. To screw in, to force in by turning or twisting. Screw around (a) to act aimlessly or unproductively. (b) screw around with, to operate or make changes on (a machine or device) without expert knowledge; to fiddle with. (c) [Colloq.]commit adultery; to be sexually promiscuous. [1913 Webster]