wrest (someone or something) out of (someone or something)
wrest (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 wrested the gun out of the attacker's hands. I managed to wrest 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 wrested out of their homes by Child Protective Services. The rebels have sworn to wrest 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 wrested me out of my slumber. She was wrested 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 wrest some answers out of the spy we were interrogating. I've been going to counseling in an effort to wrest some meaning out of this tragic situation.
See also: of, out, wrest
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- (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