ENGLISH
REFERENCE

put through the wringer

idiom
Meaning

To interrogate or scrutinize closely; to subject to some trial or ordeal.


Examples
SIMPLE

The boss put me through the wringer during my interview.

CONTEXTUAL

The police put the suspect through the wringer for hours until he finally admitted the truth.

COMPLEX

After the committee put his research proposal through the wringer, he realized he needed to revise his entire methodology before they would approve the funding.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    get one's tits in a wringer

    To get into trouble.

  2. 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.

  3. 03

    put a band-aid on a bullet wound

    To inadequately treat a serious situation.

  4. 04

    put a blanket over

    Make (something) seem less serious.

  5. 05

    put a bug in someone's ear

    To make a small suggestion or give a hint that causes the listener to act.

  6. 06

    put a damper on

    To stop people from enjoying an activity.

  7. 07

    put a foot wrong

    To make a mistake.

  8. 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.

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