Twist someones arm

Meaning

Persuade someone to do something they don’t really want to do.

Examples

I was tired after work and I didn’t really fancy the abstract expressionist exhibition but my wife twisted my arm and in the end I enjoyed it.

Where did it originate?

Britain, mid-20th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Twist someones arm