wiggle

Everyday

1. To wiggle is to move with small quick movements from side to side or up and down. tree →
2. A wiggle is one such small quick movement. tree →
3. A wiggly line is one that goes from side to side in little waves. tree →
4. (informal) «Wiggle room» means a little freedom to change something. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life you wiggle your toes, a loose tooth, or your hips in a dance; worms and tadpoles wiggle. In PE and dance it is a fun action word. In maths and drawing, a wiggly line is not straight. Phrases: «wiggle your toes», «wiggle out of» (escape or avoid something), «wiggle room», «get a wiggle on» (hurry up).

Examples

• Wiggle your toes in the warm sand. tree →
• The worm wiggled across the path. tree →
• My loose tooth wiggles when I touch it. tree →
• The puppy wiggled its whole body with joy. tree →
• The dancers wiggled their hips to the music. tree →
• Draw a wiggly line under the title. tree →
• He tried to wiggle out of doing the dishes. tree →
• Get a wiggle on or we'll miss the bus! tree →
• “Now just wiggle your shoulders this way,” he said, “and let go.” tree →

Note

Double g: wiggle, wiggled, wiggling. Similar words: wriggle (twist the whole body, often to escape), wobble (shake because unsteady), jiggle. Do not wiggle a loose tooth too hard, and ask an adult if it bleeds a lot.