have a screw loose

英：[hæv ə skru: lu:s]

美：[hæv e skru lus]

noun

a simple machine of the inclined plane type consisting of a spirally grooved solid cylinder and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits

a nail-shaped or rod-shaped piece with a spiral groove and a slotted or recessed head designed to be inserted into material by rotating (as with a screwdriver) and used for fastening pieces of solid material together

a form that resembles a screw : spiral

a turn of a screwalso: a twist like the turn of a screw

a device (such as a corkscrew) that resembles a screw

a worn-out horse

chiefly British a small packet (as of tobacco)

a prison guard

a person who bargains shrewdlyalso: skinflint

a propeller especially of a ship

thumbscrew sense 1

pressure or punitive measures intended to coerce—used chiefly in the phrase put the screws on or put the screws to

vulgar an act of sexual intercourse

vulgar a partner in sexual intercourse

verb

transitive verb

to attach, fasten, or close by means of a screw

to cause to rotate spirally about an axis

to twist into strained configurations : contort

screwed up his face

to furnish with a spiral groove or ridge : thread

to increase the intensity, quantity, or capability of

trying to screw up courage to confess—Will Scott

to mistreat or exploit through extortion, trickery, or unfair actionsespecially: to deprive of or cheat out of something due or expected

use the available Federal machinery to screw our political enemies—J. W. Dean III

to extract by pressure or threat

vulgar to copulate with

intransitive verb

to rotate like or as a screw

to turn or move with a twisting or writhing motion

vulgar copulate

noun

a simple machine of the inclined plane type consisting of a spirally grooved solid cylinder and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits

a nail-shaped or rod-shaped piece with a spiral groove and a slotted or recessed head designed to be inserted into material by rotating (as with a screwdriver) and used for fastening pieces of solid material together

a form that resembles a screw : spiral

a turn of a screwalso: a twist like the turn of a screw

a device (such as a corkscrew) that resembles a screw

a worn-out horse

chiefly British a small packet (as of tobacco)

a prison guard

a person who bargains shrewdlyalso: skinflint

a propeller especially of a ship

thumbscrew sense 1

pressure or punitive measures intended to coerce—used chiefly in the phrase put the screws on or put the screws to

vulgar an act of sexual intercourse

vulgar a partner in sexual intercourse

verb

transitive verb

to attach, fasten, or close by means of a screw

to cause to rotate spirally about an axis

to twist into strained configurations : contort

screwed up his face

to furnish with a spiral groove or ridge : thread

to increase the intensity, quantity, or capability of

trying to screw up courage to confess—Will Scott

to mistreat or exploit through extortion, trickery, or unfair actionsespecially: to deprive of or cheat out of something due or expected

use the available Federal machinery to screw our political enemies—J. W. Dean III

to extract by pressure or threat

vulgar to copulate with

intransitive verb

to rotate like or as a screw

to turn or move with a twisting or writhing motion

vulgar copulate

Noun Middle English scrue, from Middle French escroe female screw, nut, from Medieval Latin scrofa, from Latin, sow

The first known use of screw was in the 15th century

grip1 of 2verb

to seize firmly

to hold strongly the interest of

the story grips the reader

grip2 of 2noun

a firm grasp

strength in gripping

a way of clasping the hand by which members of a secret society recognize or greet one another

a firm hold giving control

in the grip of winter

comprehension sense 3, understanding

a part or device for gripping or by which something is graspedespecially: handle entry 1 sense 1

suitcase

grip1 of 2verb

to seize firmly

to hold strongly the interest of

the story grips the reader

grip2 of 2noun

a firm grasp

strength in gripping

a way of clasping the hand by which members of a secret society recognize or greet one another

a firm hold giving control

in the grip of winter

comprehension sense 3, understanding

a part or device for gripping or by which something is graspedespecially: handle entry 1 sense 1

suitcase

screw1 of 2noun

a simple machine consisting of a solid cylinder with a winding groove around it and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits

a nail-shaped or rod-shaped metal piece with a winding groove used for fastening solid pieces together

something having the shape of a screw : spiral

the act of screwing tight : twist

a screw-shaped device (as a corkscrew)

propeller

screw2 of 2verb

to attach, fasten, or close with a screw

to operate, tighten, or adjust with a screw

to turn or twist on a screwlike thread

to twist out of shape

a face screwed up in pain

to increase in amount

trying to screw up enough nerve to ask

screw1 of 2noun

a simple machine consisting of a solid cylinder with a winding groove around it and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits

a nail-shaped or rod-shaped metal piece with a winding groove used for fastening solid pieces together

something having the shape of a screw : spiral

the act of screwing tight : twist

a screw-shaped device (as a corkscrew)

propeller

screw2 of 2verb

to attach, fasten, or close with a screw

to operate, tighten, or adjust with a screw

to turn or twist on a screwlike thread

to twist out of shape

a face screwed up in pain

to increase in amount

trying to screw up enough nerve to ask

screw1 of 2noun

a simple machine consisting of a solid cylinder with a winding groove around it and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits

a nail-shaped or rod-shaped metal piece with a winding groove used for fastening solid pieces together

something having the shape of a screw : spiral

the act of screwing tight : twist

a screw-shaped device (as a corkscrew)

propeller

screw2 of 2verb

to attach, fasten, or close with a screw

to operate, tighten, or adjust with a screw

to turn or twist on a screwlike thread

to twist out of shape

a face screwed up in pain

to increase in amount

trying to screw up enough nerve to ask