thumbscrew

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thumb|screw /θ'ʌmskruː/ (thumbscrews)
also thumb screw
1 [N-COUNT]
A thumbscrew is an object that was used in the past to torture people by crushing their thumbs.
2 [N-COUNT]
If someone puts the thumbscrews on you, they start to put you under extreme pressure in order to force you to do something.

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