arm-twistingn.
/ˈɑːmˌtwɪstɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈɑrmˌtwɪstɪŋ/ 1. The action or process of twisting a person's arm, esp. in a fight or as a form of punishment, coercion, etc.
ΚΠ
1883 Japan Daily Mail 25 Aug. 412/3 The cheek-slapping and arm-twisting [by the police].
1934 Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell, Montana) 1 Mar. 12/3 A..rough-and-tumble fight to the finish..with..strangling, arm-twisting, kicking.
1995 M. S. Goodman & B. C. Fallon Pattern Changing for Abused Women i. 28 Physical abuse includes blocking her movements,..pulling hair, biting, arm twisting, punching, [etc.]
2015 G. Fried Managing Sport Facilities i. i. 6 The [early Greek] Olympics..featured..martial arts in which arm twisting, punching, kicking,..and even strangulation were allowed.
2. figurative. Coercion or forcible persuasion of a person, group, nation, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [noun] > pressure
pressure1625
arm-twisting1924
pressurizing1940
pressurization1963
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > [noun] > action of compelling
constrainingc1380
forceagec1470
compelling1496
coarctinga1513
violencing1612
coercing1659
squeeze play1916
arm-twisting1924
1924 Manch. Guardian 21 Jan. 8/1 Chantage.., arm-twisting, pin-pricking, or similar form of pressure that French diplomacy is traditionally so prone to use.
1957 Newsweek 30 Dec. 31/3 Arm twisting is used to induce ‘wavering elements, petty bourgeois, and the non-productive’ to sign ‘voluntary petitions’ for rural service.
1975 Guardian 1 Dec. 11/3 His overt arm-twisting of Third World nations to win votes.
1984 Listener 23 Aug. 9/1 Diplomatic pressure..would be accompanied by..economic and military arm-twisting.
2004 Racing Post 7 May 16/5 Churchill's director of racing..had to do some arm-twisting.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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