a turn of the screw

turn of the screw

Something that worsens an already difficult or negative situation. Seeing my ex-boyfriend with his new girlfriend is just another turn of the screw. My financial situation is already dire, so that traffic ticket is a real turn of the screw.See also: of, screw, turn

a (final or last) turn of the screw

an additional amount of pressure or hardship applied to a situation that is already extremely difficult to bear. informalSee also: of, screw, turn

a ˌturn of the ˈscrew

another problem or difficulty added to a situation which is already very bad: In this recession a rise in interest rates is just another turn of the screw for businesses.This idiom refers to a method of torturing people. Thumbscrews were used to crush people’s thumbs, and turning them tightened them.See also: of, screw, turn