worm into

worm into (something or some place)

1. To crawl, wriggle, or squeeze into some tight or confined thing or space. The dog likes to worm into bed with me and my wife at night. I can worm into the pants, but there's no way I'll be able to zip them up.

2. To get oneself into some place or a situation, with a touch of trickery, artistry, or cunning. He wormed into the big meeting by hanging around the boss before it was due to begin. I can't believe we managed to worm into the nightclub without having our IDs checked.

See also: worm

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

worm into

Insinuate oneself subtly or gradually, as in He tried to worm into her confidence. This idiom alludes to the sinuous path of a worm. [Early 1600s]

See also: worm

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

worm into

v.

1. To introduce or insert oneself into some position or condition by subtle or artful means: He wormed into the role of director by trickery and guile.

2. To introduce or insert someone or something into some position or condition by subtle or artful means: She wormed her sister into the department without anyone realizing it. I wormed the controversial statement into the article without any of the other editors knowing about it.

See also: worm

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.