What Does “Screw sth out of sb” Mean?
“Screw sth out of sb” means to forcefully or cleverly get something from someone, often by tricking or pressuring them.
Introduction
The phrase “Screw sth out of sb” is a common English phrasal verb used when someone obtains something from another person in a forceful or unfair way. It often involves persuasion, pressure, or even a bit of trickery. Understanding the Screw sth out of sb meaning helps learners use this phrase correctly in everyday conversations. This expression is informal and usually has a negative tone, implying that the person giving something does so reluctantly or unfairly. Knowing how to use this phrasal verb will improve your English fluency, especially in casual or conversational contexts.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Screw something out of somebody
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2–C1
- Short meaning: To get something from someone by force or trickery
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Screw sth out of sb” is separable. You can place the object (something) between “screw” and “out,” or after “out of.” For example:
- Screw the money out of him.
- Screw him out of the money.
Here, “sth” stands for an object, and “sb” is the person from whom you get something.
How to Use Screw sth out of sb?
Use this phrasal verb when you want to describe getting something from someone unwillingly or by using pressure or cleverness. It’s often used in informal or negative contexts, like when someone is tricked or forced to give money, information, or favors.
It’s important to remember that this phrase is not polite and should be used carefully, usually in casual conversations or storytelling.
Examples
Imagine a situation where a salesman tricks a customer into paying more than necessary. You could say:
- He managed to screw an extra fee out of the client without them noticing.
- She screwed the truth out of him by asking tricky questions.
- The company screwed a lot of money out of unsuspecting customers.
- Don’t let them screw you out of your hard-earned cash.
- He tried to screw the secret out of his friend during the conversation.
These sentences show different ways to use Screw sth out of sb in a sentence.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse this phrase with similar expressions or use it incorrectly by missing the object or mixing the order.
- Incorrect: Screw out the money of him.
- Correct: Screw the money out of him.
- Incorrect: Screw him out the money.
- Correct: Screw him out of the money.
Remember, the object (“something”) must be placed between “screw” and “out,” or after “out of,” and the person (“somebody”) comes after “out of.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “wrest something from someone” and “twist something out of someone.” However, “screw sth out of sb” often implies trickery or pressure, while “wrest” focuses more on physical or strong effort, and “twist” suggests persuasion or manipulation.
Unlike “get something from someone,” which is neutral, “screw sth out of sb” usually has a negative or forceful connotation.
Common Collocations
This phrasal verb is often used with objects related to money, information, or favors. Here are some common collocations:
- Money – forcing someone to pay more
- Information – getting secrets or details unwillingly
- Confession – making someone admit something
- Help – pressuring someone to assist
- Secrets – extracting private information
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of screw sth out of sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using the phrasal verb:
Anna: Did you hear how Tom got the contract?
Ben: Yeah, he really screwed the deal out of the other company by pushing hard.
Anna: That’s clever, but a bit unfair, don’t you think?
Ben: Definitely. It’s a classic case of screwing something out of someone.
Practice
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrasal verb:
They managed to _______ a large sum of money _______ the old landlord.
- a) screw… out of
- b) screw… from
- c) screw… off
- d) screw… in
Answer: a) screw… out of
FAQ
- What does “screw sth out of sb” mean? It means to get something from someone by pressure, trickery, or force.
- Is “screw sth out of sb” formal? No, it’s informal and often negative.
- Can I use this phrasal verb with any object? Usually, it’s used with money, information, favors, or secrets.
- Is the phrase separable or inseparable? It is separable; the object can go between “screw” and “out” or after “out of.”
- Are there synonyms for this phrase? Yes, such as “wrest something from someone” or “twist something out of someone.”
