put (one) through the mangle
To subject one to some ordeal, difficulty, trial, or punishment; to force one to undergo an unpleasant experience. My mother's recent bout with cancer has really put us through the mangle this year. I don't think Jake is a great fit for the military. His superiors are constantly putting him through the mangle for his disobedience.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.