wangle

present singular third person wangles · participle present wangling · participle past wangled · past wangled

1. transitiveTo obtain through deceitful or manipulative methods.

   “My dear old lad,” he said, briskly, “this must be remedied! Oh, positively! This must be remedied at once! I suppose my things wouldn’t fit you? No. Well, I tell you what. We’ll wangle something from my father-in-law.

   1920 March – 1921 February, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter XVIII, in Indiscretions of Archie, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, […], published 1921, →OCLC

   1 more example

   After graduation, she was hired by United Press International, which on one memorable occasion sent her to cover a show by Elvis Presley in Detroit. She wangled an invitation to the singer’s hotel room, where one thing led to another.

   2022 November 1, William Grimes, “Gael Greene, Who Shook Up Restaurant Reviewing, Dies at 88”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms: fainaigue, finagle

2. transitiveTo falsify, as records.
3. transitiveTo achieve through contrivance or cajolery.

   It took some effort to wangle a last-minute meeting with the CEO.

   1 more example

   "[…] Well, as regards Mr. Carrados I have already arranged, as he suggests, to 'do something.'" "The deuce you have!" said Nickle, staring his curiosity. "How is it to be wangled?"

   1934, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London

plural wangles

1. The act of wangling