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  What it means

  “To tighten the screw.” To increase pressure on someone, to make conditions harder or stricter — to turn the screws on someone.

  Vocabulary

  • dokręcać — to tighten (imperfective)
  • śruba — screw

  Grammar note

  'Śrubę' is accusative of 'śruba'. The perfective 'dokręcić śrubę' refers to a single act of tightening; the imperfective implies ongoing pressure.

  Cultural context

  Used in workplace, political, and personal contexts. 'Dokręcają nam śrubę' — they're tightening the screws on us.

  Intermediate

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