Definition

Verb: - To form a tight curl, bend, or twist, often suddenly or unexpectedly, creating a sharp angle or irregularity in something that is typically straight or smooth.

Usage

This verb describes the action of something becoming curled, bent, or twisted into a tight, often sharp, curve or loop. It is frequently used for physical objects like wire, rope, or hair.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The old garden hose kinked up every time I tried to use it, blocking the water flow.
  • If you don't store the extension cord properly, it will kink up and could get damaged.
  • Her fine hair tends to kink up in the humid weather.

Advanced Usage

• "to kink up": can be used metaphorically to describe a process or plan developing an unexpected complication or snag.
  • Our travel plans kinked up when all the flights were suddenly canceled.

Variants and Related Words

• Kink (noun): A sharp twist or curve in something that is otherwise straight.
  • There's a kink in the cable that might cause a short circuit.
• Kinky (adjective): Having kinks; tightly curled or twisted. (Note: This adjective also has distinct, common informal meanings unrelated to physical curling).
  • The kinky texture of the wool made it difficult to comb.

Synonyms

• Crimp: To press or pinch into small, tight folds or waves.
• Curl: To form or cause to form a curved or spiral shape.
• Twist: To form into a bent, curled, or distorted shape.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Kink out: (Less common) To straighten or remove a kink.
  • It took me an hour to kink out all the bends in the wire.

Related Idioms

• To work out the kinks: To solve the small problems or flaws in a system, plan, or object.
  • We need a testing phase to work out the kinks in the new software.

Verb

1. curl tightly
   • crimp hair