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to wring

to wring

13 4.1
Twist and squeeze cloth or clothes to remove water
  • verb
  • /rɪŋ/
translation icon : escurrir
  • Here, wring it out a little.

Examples

  • Myrkle's daughter bends double, wringing her dirty mop into the metal bucket.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • So why don't you go upstairs with me and wring it out?

  • Of course, you probably want to wring it out first.

  • I thought they were going to wring it like a chicken.

  • Take off your shirt and wring it out.

  • You could wring it without getting your hands dirty.

  • Outside the bus, more villagers lined up, talking and wringing their hands.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • When the rags cool off, you'll help me wring them out, Yakov.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Cornelius wipes his forehead with a scarf and wrings it out over the stone.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • After washing the shirt, she had to wring it out to remove the excess water.

Synonyms

to express
vsto wring
12 7.6

To force liquid out of something by squeezing it

involves a hand twist plus compression to remove liquid
to wring out
vsto wring
5 3.3

Twist or squeeze a wet cloth to remove most of the water

focuses on the same action but emphasizes twisting as main motion
to squeeze out
vsto wring
4 3.2

To press something to get liquid out

adds twisting to the compression to force liquid out
to press out
vsto wring
1 4.1

To get liquid from something by squeezing it

uses twisting together with compression to force liquid out
to squiz
vsto wring
  • UK
9.9

To press something firmly to get out liquid or check ripeness

is the standard term that stresses twisting as well as compression

Phrasal Verbs

5 3.3

Twist or squeeze a wet cloth to remove most of the water

Get something from someone after a lot of effort or pressure

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How Strongly

to mangle
19 7.2
to wring
13 4.1
squeeze
12 1.5
twist
51 2.4
to turn
1.0

Surface Forms

wring infinitive
wringing present participle
wrings third person singular
wrung past
wrung past participle

Etymology

Wring comes from an old English word meaning 'to twist'. Think of twisting a wet towel to force the water out, a movement similar to turning a wrench. So to wring something is to twist and squeeze it to remove liquid.