To wriggle out of something
Meaning
To avoid responsibility, an obligation, or a difficult situation through clever, evasive, or dishonest means.
Origin
The phrase vividly draws on the physical world of small, slippery creatures—think worms, eels, or snakes. These masters of escape are renowned for their sinuous, undulating movements, contorting their bodies to slip free from a tight grasp, a narrow crevice, or any impending capture. This literal act of 'wriggling out' of a difficult physical predicament, seen in nature, began to be applied metaphorically to human conduct in the 18th century. It became the perfect, punchy shorthand for someone using cunning, excuses, or slick maneuvers to escape an obligation, a difficult situation, or a deserved consequence, much like a slippery fish eluding the net.
Examples
- He tried every excuse imaginable to wriggle out of attending the mandatory training session.
- Despite the mountain of evidence, the politician somehow managed to wriggle out of the corruption charges.