Meaning & use
twisting someone's arm
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiominformal
Putting pressure on someone in a friendly or persistent way so that they agree to do what you want.
Grammar: Used as a continuous verb phrase; the simple form is 'twist someone's arm', and it often appears after 'no' to say no pressure is needed.
Patterns
- twist someone's arm
- no arm-twisting needed
- need some arm-twisting
I didn't really want to sell the car, but my brother kept twisting my arm.
Nobody had to twist her arm to get her to sing — she loves an audience.
After a bit of arm-twisting, the manager agreed to give us the day off.
phraseidiom
Using force or threats to make someone do something they do not want to do.
Grammar: Here the phrase is literal and stronger; it suggests real coercion rather than friendly persuasion.
Patterns
- twist someone's arm into doing something
- twist someone's arm to make them do something
The gang was accused of twisting witnesses' arms to keep them quiet.
He claimed the company twisted his arm into signing the contract.
Common combinations
- no arm-twisting
- She volunteered straight away — no arm-twisting required.
- a bit of arm-twisting
- It took a bit of arm-twisting, but he finally joined the team.
- twist someone's arm into doing something
- They twisted my arm into staying for dinner.
- keep twisting someone's arm
- Stop twisting my arm; I've already said no.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pressuring
- More neutral and often negative; it describes any kind of push, while arm-twisting suggests a lighter, more social kind of persuasion.
- coaxing
- Focuses on gentle, patient persuasion rather than the insistent pushing implied by arm-twisting.
- leaning on someone
- Similar but stronger and more disapproving; it often hints at threats or abuse of power.
Word family
- arm-twisting noun
- The act of pressuring someone to agree; 'It took a lot of arm-twisting.'
Commonly confused: twisting someone's arm or twist someone's words?
twisting someone's arm vs twist someone's words
To twist someone's words means to repeat what they said in a misleading way; twisting their arm means pressuring them to agree.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'twisting someone's arm' in its usual informal sense?
Choose one answer.
In the informal idiom, twisting someone's arm means persuading them gently, as in option 1. The other options describe a real physical movement of an arm, which is the literal meaning, not the idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “twisting someone's arm”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.