wriggle (one's) way into (something or some place)

1. To manage to get into something or some place by turning or twisting one's body with writhing motions. The mouse wriggled its way into the house through a small crack in the wall. Mary wriggled her way into the crawl space to inspect the plumbing of the house.

2. To succeed in achieving some status, condition, or position very narrowly or by sly or clever means. After a lackluster season, we just barely managed to wriggle our way into the playoffs. She didn't care for him at all at first, but he managed to wriggle his way into her good graces eventually.