twist your arm
/ˌtwɪst jər ˈɑːm/INFORMAL · B2
Meaning
to persuade someone to do something they are unwilling to do
Examples
- 1I didn't want to go to the gym, but my sister twisted my arm.
- 2Another slice of cake? Well, if you twist my arm!
- 3Nobody wanted to organise the office party until the boss twisted Leo's arm.
- 4Mum didn't want a dog, but we twisted her arm and now she walks him every day.
- 5If you want Grandad to see a doctor, you'll have to twist his arm.
Grammar
twist changes form: twisted, twisting. your changes to name the person persuaded: my, her, Leo's.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about the body
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →by the skin of your teethonly just, by a very small marginbury your head in the sandto refuse to think about an unpleasant problemkeep your head above waterto only just manage in a difficult situationgive someone the cold shoulderto ignore someone on purpose and be unfriendlylet your hair downto relax and enjoy yourself much more freely than usualelbow greasehard physical effort, especially when cleaning
400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
Here you get a couple of questions. The app gives you 16 practice modes, native equivalents and spaced repetition that tells you when it’s time to refresh.
