winkle out — 1) PHRASAL VERB If you winkle information out of someone, you get it from them when they do not want to give it to you, often by tricking them. [BRIT, INFORMAL] [V P n (not pron)] The security services will pretty well go to any lengths to winkle … English dictionary
winkle out — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms winkle out : present tense I/you/we/they winkle out he/she/it winkles out present participle winkling out past tense winkled out past participle winkled out British informal 1) to get something such as… … English dictionary
winkle out — verb to acquire something or someone with difficulty … Wiktionary
winkle — ► NOUN ▪ a small edible shore dwelling mollusc with a spiral shell. ► VERB (winkle out) chiefly Brit. ▪ extract or obtain with difficulty. ORIGIN shortening of PERIWINKLE(Cf. ↑periwinkle) … English terms dictionary
winkle — win|kle1 [ˈwıŋkəl] n BrE [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: PERIWINKLE 2] a small sea animal that lives in a shell and is eaten as food winkle 2 winkle2 v winkle out [winkle sb/sth<=>out] phr v 1.) to make someone leave a place ▪ … Dictionary of contemporary English
winkle — I. noun Etymology: by shortening Date: 1585 periwinkle II II. intransitive verb (winkled; winkling) Etymology: frequentative of wink Date: 1791 twinkle III. tra … New Collegiate Dictionary
winkle — I UK [ˈwɪŋk(ə)l] / US noun [countable] Word forms winkle : singular winkle plural winkles 1) a type of small shellfish that can be eaten as food 2) British informal a penis. This word is used especially by children. II UK [ˈwɪŋk(ə)l] / US verb… … English dictionary
winkle — /ˈwɪŋkəl / (say wingkuhl) noun 1. any of various marine gastropods; a periwinkle. –phrase (winkled, winkling) 2. winkle out, to prise out or extract, as a winkle from its shell with a pin. {shortened form of periwinkle1} …
winkle — win|kle1 [ wıŋkl ] noun count type of small SHELLFISH that can be eaten as food winkle win|kle 2 [ wıŋkl ] verb ,winkle out phrasal verb transitive BRITISH INFORMAL 1. ) to get something such as information from someone when they did not intend… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
winkle — [[t]wɪ̱ŋk(ə)l[/t]] winkles, winkling, winkled N COUNT Winkles are small sea snails that can be eaten. [BRIT] Phrasal Verbs: winkle out Syn: periwinkle (in AM, use periwinkles) … English dictionary
