put the arm on

put the arm on
   to extort money etc. from (a person) by threats of violence
   The imagery is from wrestling. Also as put the black on, where black is a shortened form of blackmail, and put the burn on, from burn3.
   And as put the bite on, put the muscle on, or put the scissors on:
    Other guys roll over and lie still the moment you put the arm on them, (le Carré, 1980). ... put the bite on you and you paid him a little now and then to avoid scandal. (Chandler, 1951)
    I was looking for a job, no question about it. But I wasn't trying to put the muscle on them. (Colodny and Gettlin, 1991 — he was being accused of blackmail)
    ... if I don't get them in one pound notes, I'll put the scissors on you. (Kersh, 1936)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • put the arm on — (someone) American, informal to try to force someone to do something. If he won t pay up, we ll get Rick to put the arm on him …   New idioms dictionary

  • put the arm on — phrasal slang 1. : to ask for money put the arm on a rich alumnus and got enough for a new gymnasium 2. : to hold up : hijack put the arm on a big load of furs * * * put the arm on (N Am inf …   Useful english dictionary

  • put the arm on someone — put the arm on (someone) American, informal to try to force someone to do something. If he won t pay up, we ll get Rick to put the arm on him …   New idioms dictionary

  • put the arm on someone — 1. tv. to demand something of someone, especially money. □ I know Tom wants some money. He put the arm on me, but I said no. □ She put the arm on her roommate for a loan. 2. tv. to arrest someone. (Underworld.) □ They put the arm on Bart for… …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • put the arm on — or put the bite on phrasal to ask for money …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • put the arm on — idi Slang. a) to solicit or borrow money from b) to use force or violence on …   From formal English to slang

  • put the bite on — phrasal see put the arm on …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord — This article is about the organization. For the Cabaret Voltaire album, see The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord (album). The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord (CSA) was a radical Christian Identity organization formed in… …   Wikipedia

  • put the screws on — informal you don t pay up and my pal Bruno here will put the screws on you, see? Syn: pressure, put pressure on, coerce, browbeat, use strong arm tactics on, strong arm; hold a gun to someone s head; informal turn the heat on, lean on, bulldoze …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • put the screws on — (informal) PRESSURIZE, put pressure on, pressure, coerce, browbeat, use strong arm tactics on; hold a gun to someone s head; informal put the heat on, lean on. → screw * * * phrasal : to exert extreme pressure on put the screws on the small… …   Useful english dictionary

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