Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Search results

Definition of wring verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

wring

verb
wring pronunciation English rɪŋ wring pronunciation American rɪŋ
wrung, wrung
wrung pronunciation English rʌŋ wrung pronunciation American rʌŋ
 
1 wring something (out) to twist and squeeze clothes, etc. in order to get the water out of them2 wring something if you wring a bird's neck, you twist it in order to kill the bird
Idioms

wring somebody's hand

to squeeze somebody's hand very tightly when you shake hands

wring your hands

to hold your hands together, and twist and squeeze them in a way that shows you are anxious or upset, especially when you cannot change the situation

wring somebody's neck

(informal) when you say that you will wring somebody's neck, you mean that you are very angry or annoyed with them
Phrasal verbs

wring something from/out of somebody

to obtain something from somebody with difficulty, especially by putting pressure on them
Synonym
extractA few concessions were wrung from the government.They managed to wring the truth out of him.