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Glite Dictionary
to wiggle out of

to wiggle out of

2 7.0
Avoid a duty or problem by making excuses
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈwɪɡəl aʊt ʌv/
  • Informal
translation icon : esquivar
  • " But it's getting harder and harder for Republicans to wiggle out of the scientific argument.
  • try to wiggle out of
  • managed to wiggle out of
  • gonna wiggle out of

And remember, narcissistic friendships can be very difficult to wriggle out of, especially because of things like guilt and pity.

Examples

  • She tried to wiggle out of helping with the project by claiming she was too busy.

  • But you are, Charles, if you think you can wiggle out of this.

    Sleepwalkers (1992)

  • You should really stop trying to wiggle out of this, man.

    Blog text (27)

  • If you tried a little harder, you actually could probably wiggle out of this.

    Onward (2020)

  • But he couldn't wiggle out of it, that would set a bad example.

    Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)

  • Let's see Michelle Rhee try to wiggle out of this one.

    Blog text (14)

  • He always knows how to wiggle out of his responsibilities without getting into trouble.

  • Despite the pressure, she managed to wiggle out of attending the meeting with a last-minute excuse.

Synonyms

to get out
vsto wiggle out of
  • Informal
462 3.8

Avoid doing a task or taking blame you should accept

achieves escape specifically by offering excuses or clever reasoning
to get away with it
vsto wiggle out of
234 3.4

Escape blame or punishment for doing something wrong

focuses on avoiding duties by excuses or clever argumentative avoidance
to evade
vsto wiggle out of
52 4.4

To get away from someone or something by being clever and tricky

is more about using verbal excuses or arguments to avoid responsibility
to dodge
vsto wiggle out of
25 5.3

To avoid answering a question or facing responsibility by giving unclear answers

prefers to use excuses or clever words to evade a duty
to weasel
vsto wiggle out of
  • Informal
21 8.0

To avoid responsibility by acting in a sneaky or dishonest way

relies more on verbal excuses or clever reasoning to escape duties
to sidestep
vsto wiggle out of
15 4.9

To avoid answering a question or dealing with a problem directly

instead uses excuses or clever arguments to escape duty or difficulty
to weasel out
vsto wiggle out of
  • Informal
10 8.2

To avoid doing something you should do by being dishonest or tricky

succeeds by using excuses or clever arguments rather than overt trickery
to fudge
vsto wiggle out of
5 7.7

To avoid giving a clear answer or decision

instead focuses on making excuses or clever arguments to get out
to fudge one's way out
vsto wiggle out of
  • Informal
9.1

To avoid taking responsibility by lying or being vague

avoids duties mainly through excuses or clever verbal maneuvers
to thimblerig your way out
vsto wiggle out of
  • Archaic
9.9

To trick people to avoid a problem or responsibility

instead achieves avoidance through excuses or clever verbal tactics
to fugle
vsto wiggle out of
9.9

To avoid answering or taking responsibility by using clever words

uses verbal excuses or arguments rather than purely manipulative tricks
to fuckle one's way out
vsto wiggle out of
  • Offensive
9.9

Avoid a difficult situation by lying or making excuses

does the same avoidance but usually via excuses or clever speech

Antonyms

to take on
405 2.8

To agree to do a job or task

to take responsibility
193 3.3

To admit you caused a problem and accept the blame

Surface Forms

wiggle out of infinitive
wiggled out of past
wiggled out of past participle
wiggling out of present participle
wiggles out of third person singular

Morphology

wiggle + out + of

The literal senses of 'wiggle' (to squirm/move to free oneself) plus 'out of' (away from/escape from) transparently suggest getting free or avoiding something, so a B1 learner who knows the parts could infer the general idea of escaping or avoiding. However, the specific pragmatic nuance — evading duties often by excuses or clever argument — is a metaphorical extension and not fully predictable without exposure, so the item is only partially compositional.

Etymology

Wiggle out of may come from the image of someone twisting and moving to get free of a tight space: they wiggle and come out of it. That's why the phrase means 'to avoid' or 'escape' a duty or problem by slipping away or using clever excuses.