- Today's Word
Wangle
[WANG-guhl]
Definition
- (verb) To obtain something through clever, often devious means. It implies manipulating a situation or persuading someone in a crafty or ingenious way to achieve a desired outcome.
Example
Despite the “sold out” sign, Sarah managed to wangle two tickets to the concert by convincing the box office manager that she was a music critic.
Fun Fact
The origin of “wangle” is uncertain, but it first appeared in British slang in the early 20th century. Some linguists speculate it might be related to the Old English word “wancol,” meaning unstable or unsteady. Others suggest it could be connected to the verb “waggle,” implying a sort of back-and-forth movement that could metaphorically represent manipulation. The term gained popularity during World War I, often used by soldiers to describe obtaining something through unofficial channels. Today, while it can imply a degree of deviousness, “wangle” is often used more lightheartedly to describe clever problem-solving or resourcefulness.
(adjective) Eager to argue or fight; aggressively defiant and quick to confront.
The truculent customer refused every solution the staff offered, seeming more interested in the argument itself than in any actual resolution.
Truculent comes from the Latin truculentus, meaning “fierce” or “savage,” derived from trux meaning “wild” or “cruel.” It entered English in the 16th century, initially describing something literally savage or brutal, before settling into its modern meaning of aggressive confrontational behavior and a hair-trigger readiness to fight or argue.