wringer

[ ring-er ]

noun

1. an apparatus or machine for squeezing liquid out of anything wet, such as a pair of rollers between which an article of wet clothing may be squeezed.
2. a painful, difficult, or tiring experience; ordeal:

   Their years-long disagreement was an emotional wringer that hurt them both deeply.

3. a person or thing that wrings:

   My father is a real worrier—a wringer of hands and a pacer of floors.

wringer

/ ˈrɪŋə /

noun

1. another name for mangle 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of wringer¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; wring ( def ) + -er ¹( def )

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. through the wringer,
   1. through acute suffering or hardship:

      He’s really been through the wringer with his child’s illness.

      A series of disasters put her family through the wringer financially.

   2. through rigorous testing, examination, or trial:

      Our numbers have been run through the wringer every which way, and it still looks like some cuts will be needed.

      Keep an eye out for a full review once we put this racing bike through the wringer.

More idioms and phrases containing wringer

see under put through (the wringer) .

Example Sentences

Donnie Wahlberg shared in the documentary that in the beginning stages of New Kids on The Block the members were put through the wringer.

From Salon

To say Reilly's character has been put through the wringer would be an understatement.

From BBC

“We went through a lot of wringers, but we succeeded,” Chaudhuri said.

From Los Angeles Times

That means to the world to somebody who’s been thrown through the wringer and discarded and kicked to the curb.

From Los Angeles Times

Even for a show known for its tense, emotionally exhausting storytelling, “Fishes” put its audience through the wringer, not that anyone seemed to mind.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• inquiry
• investigation
• query
• questioning