wriggle off the hook

wriggle off the hook

To avoid having to do something, likened to a fish escaping from the hook of a fishing rod. My mom wanted me to help her clean out the garage this weekend, but I was able to wriggle off the hook, thanks to my away basketball game.
See also: hook, off, wriggle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • get (one's) rocks off on (something)
  • as though
  • a Monday morning quarterback
  • shine through
  • the bloom is off the rose
  • bacon-faced
  • the bloom is off
  • be cut adrift
  • adrift
  • the blush is off the rose
References in periodicals archive
Hoops fan John Henderson, Wishaw, was rather to the point when he said: "Is it 'jelly-and-icecream' time yet for the Celtic supporters?" Dunky Robertson, London, said: "Rangers can't wriggle off the hook this time.
I particularly like the way she didn't let politicians on the panel wriggle off the hook and dodge the questions.
But in a sometimes ragged second half they almost let Bolton wriggle off the hook and there were a string of scares at the back.
It allowed Edgar and the lawmakers of that era to wriggle off the hook, forcing the governors and legislators who would follow to make the difficult spending decisions in the future.
A South African team led this week by Faf du Plessis will not allow England to wriggle off the hook. When England bat first, they have to get out of this habit of allowing the opposition to get into the game.
"When you've got a total like that, you need everything to go your way throughout the innings and to continue taking wickets," said captain Collingwood, who saw the eventual winners wriggle off the hook from 9-3.
Benwell Hill (297-7) were unable to force a win over Whitburn (223-8), and Gateshead Fell lost after looking certain to win - they had Stockton 46-6 but let them wriggle off the hook.
But Wenger should not wriggle off the hook in a frenzy of righteous indignation.
With just a few more minutes before Mourinho got to turn his half-time hairdryer onto turbo, the league leaders (albeit only on alphabetical order at kick-off) were never going to let their guests wriggle off the hook.
Mercifully for Anderson, the man from Wisconsin fluffed his lines and let the tournament third-favourite wriggle off the hook. The Scottish No.1 was not going to open the door to his rival a second time and, having taken the lead himself, managed to scramble over the line in the fourth to secure a 3-1 win and a clash with Dutchman Klaasen in Saturday's second-round showdown.
YOU'VE got to hand it to Manchester City - they most certainly know how to wriggle off the hook.
But thanks to James Cameron, who made 41 off 94 balls, Surrey allowed Worcestershire to wriggle off the hook. Cameron found a useful ally in the shape of Jones.
Gold Coast coach John Cartwright didn't hold back in attacking his side after the Titans let the Parramatta Eels wriggle off the hook by conceding a last-gasp try in Sydney.
Having allowed Northamptonshire to wriggle off the hook at 163 for seven in order to secure a slender first innings lead earlier in the day, Surrey looked to make a more considered start to their second innings.