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]