Twist arm

Meaning

The idiom "twist arm" means to convince someone to do something against their will or to persuade someone to change their opinion or behavior. It can also mean to bend someone to your wishes or to pressurize someone into doing something they don't want to do.

Usage

• He tried to twist my arm into going to the party, but I couldn't resist.
• She twisted my arm to try a new restaurant that she heard was amazing.
• The manager tried to twist his employees' arms into working overtime on Sunday.
• I refused to be pushed into making a decision by my colleague, so I walked away.
• My friend tried to twist my arm into buying a new car, but I knew I couldn't afford it. The usage of "twist arm" can vary depending on the context. For example, if someone tries to pressurize you into doing something against your will, they are trying to twist your arm. However, if someone convinces you to change your opinion or behavior by using persuasive arguments, they are not twisting your arm but rather changing your mind.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "twist arm" is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in the early 20th century. The phrase may have been influenced by the practice of twisting a person's arm in order to persuade them to go somewhere or do something they didn't want to do. Another possibility is that the phrase comes from the practice of twisting a person's arm to make them do a trick or stunt. Over time, the meaning of "twist arm" has evolved to include more general situations where someone is pressurized into doing something against their will or changing their behavior. The idiom has also been adapted in different regions and cultures. For example, in Spanish, the equivalent phrase is "voltear la mano," which means to turn your hand over and over again.

Synonyms in English

• Coerce
• Force
• Compel
• Pressure
• Manipulate

Synonyms in other languages

• Coercer (French) - Coercer means to force someone into doing something against their will by using physical or psychological pressure.
• Zwang (German) - Zwang means coercion or compulsion, and is often used to refer to someone being forced to do something they don't want to do.
• 迫勵 (Japanese) - 迫勵 means to urge or persuade someone to do something by using strong pressure.
• 強制 (Chinese) - 強制 means to force someone into doing something against their will by using physical or psychological pressure.
• 扭转 (Arabic) - 扭вер means to twist someone's arm in order to make them do something they don't want to do.

Similar Idioms

• take a leaf out of someone’s book

• toot one’s own horn

• to heart’s content