wangle

American  

[wang-guhl] / ˈwæŋ gəl /

verb (used with object)

wangled, wangling

1. to bring about, accomplish, or obtain by scheming or underhand methods.

   to wangle an invitation.

   Synonyms:

   wheedle, engineer, finagle, maneuver

2. to falsify or manipulate for dishonest ends.

   to wangle business records.

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verb (used without object)

wangled, wangling

1. to use contrivance, scheming, or underhand methods to obtain some goal or result.

2. to manipulate something for dishonest ends.

noun

1. an act or instance of wangling.

wangle British  

/ ˈwæŋɡəl /

verb

1. (tr) to use devious or illicit methods to get or achieve (something) for (oneself or another)

   he wangled himself a salary increase

2. to manipulate or falsify (a situation, action, etc)

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noun

1. the act or an instance of wangling

Other Word Forms

• wangler noun

Etymology

Origin of wangle

1810–20; blend of wag (the tongue) and dangle (about someone, i.e., hang around someone, court someone's favor)

Explanation

Wangle means to get something through deception or devious coaxing, like the time you tried to wangle your way into a concert by pretending to be the singer's sister. Wangle, which rhymes with tangle is similar in meaning to manipulate, although wangle has a more informal feel. The word's playful sound hints at its origin — it came into English as slang. In the 1880s it was coined by British printers who used their skills to wangle, or fake, an image to look like something else. That tradition endures today with untrustworthy magazines that wangle photos of celebrities to deceive readers.

Example Sentences

Clearly, the few evolutionary changes the domestic cat has made have been the right ones to wangle their way into people's hearts and homes.

From Salon • Aug. 11, 2023

Even when I was filming “Clifford,” I managed to somehow wangle my way into getting onto a flight and going back for three days of Glastonbury, and I was just floating.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2021

At six, he got his first library card from the Brooklyn Public Library; he would eventually wangle a second one from the neighbouring borough of Queens, doubling his weekly intake.

From Nature • Jan. 27, 2020

Francis would wangle VIP invitations to 7th Fleet ceremonies and wait patiently for a chance to approach the admiral and shake his hand.

From Washington Post • Jan. 23, 2018

“Order of Merlin, Second Class, I’d say. First Class, if I can wangle it!”

From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling

Related Words

• wriggle