alligator wrench
- noun
- /ˈælɪˌɡeɪtər wɛnʧ/
- Specialized
:
llave alligator
- Unlike other tools, an alligator wrench grips objects with its serrated jaw.
Examples
-
He used an alligator wrench to loosen the rusted pipe fitting.
-
An alligator wrench is essential for plumbing tasks.
-
The mechanic reached for the alligator wrench in his toolbox.
-
I used an alligator wrench to fix the pipe.
-
He used an alligator wrench to loosen the rusted pipe fitting.
-
The mechanic reached for the alligator wrench in his toolbox.
-
An alligator wrench is essential for gripping and turning objects in tight spaces.
Synonyms
60
2.5
A hand tool with a shaped opening that grips and turns nuts and bolts
2
3.0
A tool with one fixed and one movable jaw that grips and turns bolts
A wrench that grips pipes and rounded bolts tightly
How Strong
- Specialized
1
3.7
- Specialized
1
4.6
- Specialized
- US
1
3.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun is transparently descriptive: 'alligator' evokes the animal's V-shaped, serrated jaws and 'wrench' names the gripping tool, so a learner who knows both words can infer a wrench with jaws like an alligator. This kind of compound/analogy-based naming is a common, cross-linguistically accessible pattern, making the meaning predictable to B1 learners.
Etymology
The noun alligator wrench comes from the tool's V-shaped jaw with rough 'teeth' that looks like an alligator's open mouth. Because the wrench seems to 'bite' and hold things tightly, the name shows it is a tool for gripping and turning objects.