Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense wangles, present participle wangling, past tense, past participle wangled
verb
If you wangle something that you want, you manage to get it by being clever or persuading someone.
[informal]
We managed to wangle a few days' leave. [VERB noun]
He had wangled his way into the country without a visa. [VERB noun]
I asked the Captain to wangle us three tickets to Athens. [VERB noun noun]
Amanda had wangled a job for Robyn with the council. [VERB noun + for]
Synonyms: contrive, engineer, fix [informal], arrange More Synonyms of wangle
wangle in British English
(ˈwæŋɡəl) informal
verb
1. (transitive)
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)
noun
3.
the act or an instance of wangling
Derived forms
wangler (ˈwangler)
noun
Word origin
C19: originally printers' slang, perhaps a blend of waggle and dialect wankle wavering, from Old English wancol; compare Old High German wankōn to waver
wangle in American English
(ˈwæŋgəl)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈwangled or ˈwangling Informal
1.
to get, make, or bring about by persuasion, influence, adroit manipulation, contrivance, etc.
2.
to manipulate or change (statistics, accounts, etc.) for a selfish or dishonest purpose; falsify; juggle
3.
to wiggle or wriggle
verb intransitive Informal
4.
to make use of contrivance, adroit manipulation, or tricky and indirect methods in order to achieve one's aims
5.
to wriggle, as out of a difficult situation
Derived forms
wangler (ˈwangler)
noun
Word origin
altered < ? waggle
Examples of 'wangle' in a sentence
wangle
This told me he'd managed to wangle an early swerve, even though it was only half past three in the afternoon!
Magnus Mills THE SCHEME FOR FULL EMPLOYMENT (2003)
In fact, if I can wangle it, I'm going to get myself into the army catering corps.
Gaskin, Catherine THE AMBASSADOR'S WOMEN (2003)
The hotel was a pleasant place and he'd managed to wangle enough petrol to drive her home at about midnight each time.
Townsend, Eileen IN LOVE AND WAR (2003)
I've been posted various places, managed to wangle this assignment a year and a half ago.
Laurie R. King FOLLY (2003)
(verb)
Definition
to get (something) by cunning or devious methods
She managed to wangle a free ticket for me.
Synonyms
contrive
The oil companies were accused of contriving a shortage of gasoline to justify price increases.
engineer
a short-lived coup engineered by the army
fix (informal)
They offered players bribes to fix a league match.
arrange
She arranged an appointment for Friday afternoon.
manipulate
work (informal)
Some clever people work it so that they never have to pay taxes.
manoeuvre
You manoeuvred things in similar situations in the past.
pull off
fiddle (informal)
Stop fiddling your expenses account.
bring off
finagle (informal)
scheme
Everyone's always scheming and plotting.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arrange
Definition
to plan in advance
She arranged an appointment for Friday afternoon.
Synonyms
plan,
agree,
prepare,
determine,
schedule,
organize,
construct,
devise,
contrive,
fix up,
jack up (New Zealand, informal)
in the sense of engineer
Definition
to cause or plan (an event or situation) in a clever or devious manner
a short-lived coup engineered by the army
Synonyms
bring about,
plan,
control,
cause,
effect,
manage,
set up (informal),
scheme,
arrange,
plot,
manoeuvre,
encompass,
mastermind,
orchestrate,
contrive,
concoct,
wangle (informal),
finagle (informal)
in the sense of fiddle
Definition
to falsify (accounts)
Stop fiddling your expenses account.
Synonyms
cheat,
cook (informal),
fix,
manoeuvre (informal),
graft (informal),
diddle (informal),
wangle (informal),
gerrymander,
finagle (informal)
Nearby words of
wangle
wandering
wanderlust
wane
wangle
want
wanting
wanton
Synonyms of 'wangle'
wangle
Explore 'wangle' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fix
Definition
to unfairly influence the outcome of
They offered players bribes to fix a league match.
Synonyms
rig,
set up (informal),
influence,
manipulate,
bribe,
manoeuvre,
fiddle (informal),
pull strings (informal)
in the sense of manoeuvre
Definition
to manipulate a situation in order to gain some advantage
You manoeuvred things in similar situations in the past.
Synonyms
manipulate,
arrange,
organize,
devise,
manage,
set up,
engineer,
fix (informal),
orchestrate,
contrive,
stage-manage
in the sense of scheme
Definition
to plan in an underhand manner
Everyone's always scheming and plotting.
Synonyms
plot,
plan,
intrigue,
manoeuvre,
conspire,
contrive,
collude,
wheel and deal,
machinate
in the sense of work
Definition
to manipulate to one's own advantage
Some clever people work it so that they never have to pay taxes.