einen Strick drehen

Literally, “to twist (someone) a hangman’s rope (out of something)”.

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einen Strick drehen (weak, third-person singular present dreht einen Strick, past tense drehte einen Strick, past participle einen Strick gedreht, auxiliary haben)

1. (idiomatic) to use something against someone in order to hurt them (e.g. to have them fired or the like)

   Das war eine ganz harmlose Bemerkung. Daraus kann dir niemand einen Strick drehen. (Standard German proper)

   Das war ’ne ganz harmlose Bemerkung. Da kann dir keiner ’n Strick draus drehen. (Colloquial)

   It was an entirely harmless remark. Nobody can use that against you.

   (literally, “It was an entirely harmless remark. Nobody can twist you a hangman’s rope out of it.”)