prise

Everyday

1. (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ) To force something open or apart, often by pushing a tool into a gap and levering: «She prised the lid off the tin with a coin.» tree →
2. To get something out of someone with effort: «I finally prised the secret out of him.» tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and science (levers) you prise open tins and shells; in stories, characters prise open doors or prise out secrets. Phrases: «prise open», «prise off», «prise out of», «prise apart».

Examples

• Dad prised the paint tin open with a screwdriver. tree →
• The bird prised the mussel shell apart. tree →
• He prised the stone out of his boot. tree →
• We prised the truth out of my little brother. tree →
• Use a spoon to prise the lid off, not your teeth. tree →
• The burglars tried to prise the window open. tree →

Note

UK spelling is «prise»; American English uses «pry» (pry open). Do not confuse with «prize» (a reward), which sounds the same; the noun «prise» (a grip or lever) is rare. Prising uses the idea of a lever from science lessons.