put through the wringer

put someone through the wringer

Fig. to give someone a difficult time; to interrogate someone thoroughly. (Alludes to putting something through an old-fashioned clothes wringer.) The lawyer really put the witness through the wringer! The teacher put the students through the wringer.

See also: put, through, wringer

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put somebody through the wringer

to make someone have a very difficult or unpleasant experience

Usage notes: In the past, a wringer was a machine used for pressing water out of clothes.

They really put me through the wringer in my interview.

See also: put, through, wringer