to wangle

Examples

• All

• I wangled a job as secretary in the economics department.

  Fiction book (1993)

• How'd you wangle that one?

  Control (2007)

• "We can wangle seats on the Midnight Special."

  Fiction book (1999)

• And then not only that, but Simple Simon does manage to wangle himself involved in these shoots.

  The Fellas

• And I've even managed to wangle a couple of proposals.

  Green Fire (1954)

• Less than a minute later, he has wangled us an invitation to join the celebration.

  Academic text (2005)

• I wangled you a pass to the groundbreaking.

  Breathless (1983)

• And now he's wangled this for us.

  Fiction book (2001)

• I saw my first ballet, Swan Lake, with a fourth-grade teacher who wangled us free tickets to the second balcony.

  Fiction book (1996)

• I was able to wangle a great price for the concert tickets by persuading the seller.

Synonyms

M

to manipulate

vsto wangle

382 6.1

To control people or things in a clever, often dishonest way

aims specifically at obtaining items or chances rather than general control

R

to rig

vsto wangle

114 6.9

To arrange something dishonestly to get the result you want

is more about finding indirect ways to obtain things rather than fixing systems

P

to pull a fast one

vsto wangle

• Informal

12 8.3

To trick someone in a clever way so they do not notice

is about obtaining things by indirect methods rather than a single deceitful trick

B

to bamboozle

vsto wangle

• Informal

11 8.3

To trick someone by pretending you want to help them

is less about elaborate schemes and more about clever indirect obtaining

P

to pull a fast one on

vsto wangle

• Informal

5 8.1

To trick someone to gain an advantage

covers longer indirect or resourceful methods rather than one quick trick

P

to purloin

vsto wangle

4 9.6

To steal something secretly or dishonestly

focuses more on clever indirect obtaining rather than plain secret theft

F

to finagle

vsto wangle

• Informal

4 8.6

Get what you want by tricking people or using clever dishonest methods

focuses on getting things by indirect or slightly underhand methods

W

to wring from

vsto wangle

2 8.1

Get something from someone after a lot of effort or pressure

relies on pressure and effort rather than clever indirect or dishonest tricks

C

to cheat one's way to the top

vsto wangle

• Informal

1 7.8

To get a high job or power by being dishonest

is similar but emphasizes clever indirect approaches rather than blunt unfairness

F

to flim-flam

vsto wangle

• Archaic

1 9.5

To trick someone by using clever talk

is similar but leans more on indirect practical obtaining than conning talk

N

to nobble

vsto wangle

• NSFW

1 9.9

Get money or goods from someone by tricking them

is broader, covering indirect clever methods not only direct deceit to take things

H

to hornswoggle

vsto wangle

• Archaic

1 9.9

To trick someone to take their money or things

uses subtler indirect or resourceful methods rather than plain trickery

T

to thimblerig your way out

vsto wangle

• Archaic

9.9

To trick people to avoid a problem or responsibility

focuses on obtaining benefits rather than primarily avoiding trouble

F

to fugle

vsto wangle

9.9

To avoid answering or taking responsibility by using clever words

is more about obtaining things through indirect moves rather than escaping problems

W

to wrangle a better deal

vsto wangle

6.3

To negotiate strongly to get a better price or better terms

is often underhanded and indirect rather than open forceful negotiation

How Dishonest

to defraud

• Formal

40 6.9

to scam

• NSFW

20 3.9

to wangle

• UK

1 8.7

to manipulate

382 6.1

to circumvent

45 7.7

Surface Forms

Etymology