to uncoil from
- phrasal verb
- The cat began to uncoil from its tight ball, stretching out its legs.
Examples
-
A blue line of smoke is uncoiling from the plane, but no fire.
Fiction book (1996) -
A body resembling a brown bicycle tire began to uncoil from out of the little box, coil after coil appearing.
Fiction book (1997) -
Her jewel blazing bright as the Charmer's eyes, Naja uncoiled from Miranda's waist and slid down, poised to strike again.
Fiction book (1990) -
After lying curled up for hours, the dog slowly uncoiled from its sleeping position to greet its owner.
-
As the spring uncoiled from its compressed state, it created a loud springing sound.
Synonyms
Make a wrapped or twisted thing loose and straight
To make something that is rolled or curled become straight
To move from a rolled or folded shape into a more open form
To unwind thread or tape from a spool
To pull a line or cable from a reel
Pull something off a reel or spool
Antonyms
How Uncoiled
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'uncoil' already means 'to straighten or unwind something curled' and the preposition 'from' simply marks the origin or source, so the combined meaning 'to unwind or release from a coiled position' is a direct, literal composition. There is no idiomatic or metaphorical shift, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Uncoil from paints a simple picture: think of a hose, rope, or ribbon wrapped tight on a reel, and when you pull it, it uncoils from the reel and straightens out. So, uncoil from means 'to unwind' or 'to come free' from a coiled position.