wrench (someone or something) out of (someone or something)
wrench (someone or something) out of (someone or something)
1. To remove or take away someone or something from something or some place with a great twisting force. He wrenched the gun out of the attacker's hands. I managed to wrench the iron bar out of the cement before it had set completely.
2. To remove or take away someone or something from some place with violence, intimidation, or force. Often used in passive constructions. The children were wrenched out of their homes by Child Protective Services. The rebels have sworn to wrench power out of the hands of the autocrats ruling the country.
3. To cause someone to be suddenly removed from some state or condition. Often used in passive constructions. The loud noise wrenched me out of my slumber. She was wrenched out of her daydream by the school bell.
4. To obtain or extract something, such as information, from someone or something, especially after much difficulty or persistence. We were finally able to wrench some answers out of the spy we were interrogating. I've been going to counseling in an effort to wrench some meaning out of this tragic situation.
See also: of, out, wrench
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
wrench something out of something
to yank or twist something out of something. The policeman wrenched the gun out of Lefty's hand and told Lefty to put his hands up. Tom wrenched the bone out of the dog's mouth and threw it away.
See also: of, out, wrench
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- (someone or something) promises well
- a/the feel of (something)
- (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
- (have) got something going (with someone)
- a straw will show which way the wind blows
- accompanied by
- accompanied by (someone or something)
- accompany
- a crack at (someone or something)
- all right