through the wringer
1
experiencing many difficulties or challenges
The idiom "through the wringer" originates from the process of using a wringer, a mechanical device used to squeeze excess water from clothing, typically after washing. In a figurative sense, this expression is used to describe the experience of going through a challenging or demanding situation, often leaving an individual exhausted, emotionally drained, or thoroughly tested.
- I really had to go through the wringer with that disciplinary hearing.
- My mother's recent episode of cancer has really put us through the wringer this year.
- She freely admits she has `been through the wringer' in her personal life.
- After a tough day of interviews, he felt like he had been through the wringer.
- Completing a marathon can put a person through the wringer, testing both physical and mental endurance.