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through the wringer

through the wringer

Date: Dec 23 2010

Themes: Celebrity

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

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“My family and I put Russell through the wringer!”

- Singer Katy Perry talking about the first time her new husband met her family. (Us Weekly)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

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cause a lot of stress; give someone a hard time

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

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Singer Katy Perry says she and her family put her new husband, Russell Brand, through the wringer. Is that some sort of American courting ritual?

Not exactly. A wringer is a machine that squeezes all the water out of something. For instance, all dryers have wringers. The wringers help get the water out of your laundry. If you tried putting a person through the wringer, it would not be a very pleasant experience. That person would be squeezed so hard, it would hurt!

When you put someone through the wringer, it means you gave him a hard time. Maybe you made him feel uncomfortable, gave him lots of work to do, or asked him lots of personal questions. When a girl brings someone she is dating home to meet her family for the first time, it is not uncommon for her father to put the guy through the wringer by interrogating him and trying to find out if he is really good enough for the his little girl.

So when Katy Perry says that she and her family put her husband through the wringer, she doesn’t mean that they stuffed him in the dryer or tried to squeeze all the water out of him. The experience probably wasn’t that unpleasant. But it doesn’t sound like much fun either.

Has anyone ever put you through the wringer? If you were dating someone, would your parents put him or her through the wringer?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

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“Jared’s wife put him through the wringer when she asked for a divorce.”

“This new job is really putting me through the wringer. It’s really difficult!”

“My dad put my boyfriend through the wringer the first time he met him, but my boyfriend survived and now they get along great.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

give someone a hard time
by Bitten by an Arab bug
to ask someone difficult or unpleasant questions
by Miss Talant
ask sb unpleasant and difficult questions.
by Elisangela Branco
DreAmeR To be exposed to something difficult or troubled.
by DreAmeR

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Comments

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Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

I deal well with certain hard situations,mainly in this one where I’m front my girlfriend’s father in a first conversation about our relationship…First I always try to be very sincere and true…Besides,It is common we be a little embarassed in these situations :P

04:54 PM Aug 06 2011 |

cybergore

Venezuela

when I start in a new job or job interviews make feel a little uncomfortable and nervous. when I`m just meeting a girl too. But life is not easy and we must face new dares most of the times which put us through the wringer.

02:38 PM Dec 30 2010 |

luosijie203

Taiwan

Yes! I totally agree that it's common for those girls' parents to put their boyfriends through the wringer, but I can understand it, because they love their daughter, they want to find if those boy really love their daughter and is suitable for her. And fortunately, my wife's parents didn't put me through the wringer while I see them at the first time! that's very lucky for me, and I need to thank my wife.

06:07 AM Dec 26 2010 |

Natalia 1979

Romania

To put someone in bad situation

03:49 PM Dec 25 2010 |

sunyu922

China

My ex-boyfirend had put me through the wringer when he told me that he didn't want a  new bady after marriage.

04:07 AM Dec 25 2010 |

kamel25h

Algeria

hello

05:29 PM Dec 24 2010 |

kamel25h

Algeria

hello

05:29 PM Dec 24 2010 |

andrespretty2

Colombia


Yes, my boss.  When I was a new worker of his factory, He puts me through the wringer.    

My parents always look for my wellness, and if i'm dating, they always put them throught the wringer.

02:14 AM Dec 24 2010 |

pokemon2003

China

When my ex-girl friend who was dating with me brought me home to meet her family for the frist time, it was not uncommon for her parents to put me through the wringer. They asked my lots of personnal questions and tried to find out if I was really good enough for their little girl.

09:26 PM Dec 23 2010 |

bunyaminsert

Turkey

asking or behaving to anyone person that boring or unpleasent

08:05 PM Dec 23 2010 |

oh~oh~oh

oh~oh~oh

Taiwan

I love Katy Perry, she's very nice and she's got an awesome voice!  

04:30 PM Dec 23 2010 |

Mahatma

Mexico

 

  a year ago, my exgirlfriend`s mom caught us doing things that we did not sould do before marriage, and put us through the wringer.

02:49 PM Dec 23 2010 |

MUHAMMAD92

MUHAMMAD92

Saudi Arabia

nice lessone

02:48 PM Dec 23 2010 |

MUHAMMAD92

MUHAMMAD92

Saudi Arabia

pesonality test.

02:47 PM Dec 23 2010 |

hoodoo

hoodoo

Turkey

would be much intresting if they stuffed him in the dryer.

02:39 PM Dec 23 2010 |

Jib_fbk

Jib_fbk

Thailand

我喜欢她的歌

01:35 PM Dec 23 2010 |

spacedragon

Brazil

hahaha i hope i will never be put through the wringer ;P

01:20 PM Dec 23 2010 |

cococheng

Taiwan

The first time when I brought my boy friend home, my father also put him through the wringer.  Instead of asking a lot of questions or saying something bad, my dad just pull a long long face to him for hours!  It's true, for hours!!  That's really a hard time to him and of course to me.

Luckily, we passed and survived.  Now he is my husband.

01:05 PM Dec 23 2010 |

koou

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

to be be introuble which is difficulut to manage to solve it

09:18 AM Dec 23 2010 |

frozen.fire

Yemen

to put someone in  unpleasant setuations.

07:30 AM Dec 23 2010 |

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