Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. a twisting squeeze
   • gave the wet cloth a wring

Verb

1. twist, squeeze, or compress in order to extract liquid
   • wring the towels
2. 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
3. twist and compress, as if in pain or anguish
   • Wring one's hand
4. twist and press out of shape