wriggling

Everyday

1. Wriggling means twisting and turning your body with quick small movements. tree →
2. Wriggling (out of something) means trying to avoid doing something or to escape from a difficult situation. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, worms, maggots and fish move by wriggling. In everyday life and stories, children wriggle in their seats when bored or excited, and a puppy wriggles out of someone's arms. «Wriggling out of a job» means trying to avoid it. Phrases: «wriggling worm», «wriggling free», «wriggle out of».

Examples

• A wriggling worm came up after the rain. tree →
• Stop wriggling and sit still! tree →
• The puppy kept wriggling out of my arms. tree →
• The fish was wriggling on the line. tree →
• He was wriggling out of doing the washing-up. tree →
• The baby was wriggling in her pram. tree →
• The caterpillar was wriggling along the leaf. tree →
• She was wriggling her body in distress. tree →

Note

From «wriggle»: drop the e before -ing. The w is silent. Similar: «wiggle», «squirm», «twist».