put through the mangle
Synonym of put through the wringer.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The new manager really put the team through the mangle.”
“After the auditors spent a week questioning every single receipt, the accountant felt like he had been put through the mangle.”
“The grueling interview process, which lasted for three consecutive days of intense psychological testing, effectively put every candidate through the mangle.”
- 01
lipstick on a pig
To make superficial or cosmetic changes to something in a doomed attempt to disguise its fundamental flaws.
- 02
not to put too fine a point on it
Used to apologize for a possibly impolite statement one is making; to put it bluntly; to express it in plain terms.
- 03
put a band-aid on a bullet wound
To inadequately treat a serious situation.
- 04
put a blanket over
Make (something) seem less serious.
- 05
put a bug in someone's ear
To make a small suggestion or give a hint that causes the listener to act.
- 06
put a damper on
To stop people from enjoying an activity.
- 07
put a foot wrong
To make a mistake.
- 08
put a gun to someone's head
To compel someone (to do something); to create a situation in which someone has no alternative course of action.
Last updated August 10, 2026