wring
/riɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To twist, squeeze, or compress something, especially to extract liquid from it: The primary meaning involves applying a twisting pressure, often to remove moisture.
- To obtain something from someone through force, coercion, or persistent pressure: This figurative sense means to extract information, money, or a concession by applying intense pressure, either physical or psychological.
- To twist and contort, as if in pain or anguish: Often used reflexively to describe a physical gesture of distress, such as twisting one's hands.
Noun:
- A forceful twisting or squeezing action: The act of wringing or a single instance of it.
Examples of Usage
- Verb (Extract Liquid):
- She had to wring the wet towel before hanging it up.
- Please wring out the mop thoroughly.
- Verb (Obtain by Coercion):
- The corrupt official tried to wring a confession from the prisoner.
- They managed to wring a promise out of him.
- Verb (Twist in Anguish):
- In despair, he began to wring his hands.
- Noun:
- He gave the rag a final, hard wring.
Advanced Usage
- "to wring one's hands": To twist and squeeze one's hands together, typically as a sign of anxiety, distress, or helplessness.
- She could only stand and wring her hands as she watched the accident.
- "to wring someone's heart" / "to wring the heart": To cause someone to feel intense sorrow or pity (a literary usage).
- The child's plea for help wrung the hearts of everyone who heard it.
Variants and Related Words
- Wringer (noun): A device with rollers used for wringing water from wet clothes.
- She put the laundry through the wringer.
- Wrung (verb): The past tense and past participle of "wring".
- He wrung the cloth until it was almost dry.
Synonyms
- Squeeze: To press firmly, especially from all sides.
- Twist: To wind or coil around; to turn something out of its natural shape.
- Extort: To obtain something by force, threats, or other unfair means.
- Milk (informal, figurative): To get as much advantage as possible from a situation or person.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Wring out: To squeeze something tightly to remove liquid. This is the most common phrasal verb.
- Remember to wring out the sponge after you use it.
Related Idioms
- Put someone through the wringer: To subject someone to a very difficult or stressful experience.
- The intense interrogation put the suspect through the wringer.
- Wring one's neck: An expression of extreme anger or frustration toward someone (not literal).
- That noise is so annoying, I could wring his neck!
Noun
- a twisting squeeze
- gave the wet cloth a wring
Verb
- twist, squeeze, or compress in order to extract liquid
- wring the towels
- obtain by coercion or intimidation
- They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss
- They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him
- twist and compress, as if in pain or anguish
- Wring one's hand
- twist and press out of shape