Meaning & use
on the screws
Last updated
UK/ˌɒn ðə ˈskruːz/
US/ˌɑːn ðə ˈskruːz/
Meaning
phraseidiominformalsport
Hit very solidly and accurately, especially in golf or baseball.
Grammar: Used after verbs like hit, strike, or catch: He hit the ball on the screws.
Patterns
- hit something on the screws
- catch it on the screws
- strike it on the screws
He hit the drive on the screws and sent the ball 300 yards down the fairway.
She caught the pitch on the screws and it flew over the fence.
The golfer struck the iron on the screws, landing it right next to the pin.
Common combinations
- hit it on the screws
- He hit it on the screws and the ball soared straight and true.
- catch it on the screws
- The batter caught it on the screws for a home run.
- on the screws
- That shot was right on the screws.
Synonyms and how they differ
- on the sweet spot
- A more common term in sports meaning hitting the ball perfectly; 'on the screws' is more old-fashioned and informal.
- flush
- In golf, 'flush' means hitting the ball solidly; 'on the screws' is similar but less common.
Opposites
off the screws
Commonly confused: on the screws or on the screw?
on the screws vs on the screw
This is not a standard idiom; 'on the screws' is the fixed expression.
Practice
What does it mean to hit a ball 'on the screws'?
Choose one answer.
'On the screws' means hitting the ball perfectly, not weakly or with a tool.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “on the screws”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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