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
Of your two fictional crime families, which one put you most through the wringer, emotionally, psychologically, et cetera?
—
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2025
Awards strategists are a select breed of film publicists who shepherd Oscar hopefuls through the six grueling months leading up to the Academy Awards, and this season has put them through the wringer.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2025
In Ashton’s book, the author imagined 10 fewer copies of Mickey, but Bong bumps the count up to 17, gleefully putting character and star alike through the wringer.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 15 Feb. 2025
As expected, the nature of the role put Ridley through the wringer, becoming one of her greatest physical challenges in a career with no shortage of them.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for through the wringer
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Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2025
Awards strategists are a select breed of film publicists who shepherd Oscar hopefuls through the six grueling months leading up to the Academy Awards, and this season has put them through the wringer.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2025
In Ashton’s book, the author imagined 10 fewer copies of Mickey, but Bong bumps the count up to 17, gleefully putting character and star alike through the wringer.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 15 Feb. 2025
As expected, the nature of the role put Ridley through the wringer, becoming one of her greatest physical challenges in a career with no shortage of them.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 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 10 Mar. 2025.
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