Meaning of Thumbscrew | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A screw that is designed to be turned with the thumb and fingers, thus requiring no screwdriver or spanner (wrench).
2. An instrument of torture used to crush the fingers.
3. A weakness that can be taken advantage of.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“Very interested, Dr Grimsby watched the saw⟳ follow⟳ the fine pencil line on the white pearwood as Peter dexterously twirled the veneers on the fretwork table, timing the movement of both hands precisely to put⟳ no strain⟳ on either the saw⟳ or the wood. Nor did he acknowledge their presence till he had finished a section of the pattern, gingerly released the saw⟳ from its upper thumbscrew, and drawn it out of the wood.”

“Law 33: Discover⟳ Each Man's Thumbscrew ― Robert Greene, The 48 Laws of Power”

CEFR level