winkle (someone or something) out of

idiom

British
1
: to use a lot of effort to get (information) from (someone)
They winkled a confession out of him.
2
: to remove (someone or something) from (a place or position) by using a lot of effort
They were winkled out of their hiding places.

Dictionary Entries Near winkle (someone or something) out of

winklepicker

winkle (someone or something) out of

winn

Cite this Entry

“Winkle (someone or something) out of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/winkle%20%28someone%20or%20something%29%20out%20of. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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