through the wringer
idiom
informal
: through a series of very difficult or unpleasant experiences
Those poor people have really gone/been through the wringer lately.
They were put through the wringer by the adoption agency.
Examples of through the wringer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As Hunter and the Jaguars get set for training camp, Super Bowl champion Willie Colon said on Friday that his teammates should put him through the wringer to prepare him for what’s to come during the season.
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Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025
No longer interested in enchanting us, the filmmaker puts his audience through the wringer, and his kick-ass mentality is well-served by star Tom Cruise, who lives for these sorts of full-throttle roles.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025
But for some people prolonged rest can seriously put their spine through the wringer, causing a painful stiffness that only movement can soothe.
—Katie Camero, SELF, 20 June 2025
Then one week, Conan [O’Brien] had worked with a very, very hard host who had put him through the wringer.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for through the wringer
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Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025
No longer interested in enchanting us, the filmmaker puts his audience through the wringer, and his kick-ass mentality is well-served by star Tom Cruise, who lives for these sorts of full-throttle roles.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025
But for some people prolonged rest can seriously put their spine through the wringer, causing a painful stiffness that only movement can soothe.
—Katie Camero, SELF, 20 June 2025
Then one week, Conan [O’Brien] had worked with a very, very hard host who had put him through the wringer.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for through the wringer
Cite this Entry
“Through the wringer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/through%20the%20wringer. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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