a new wrinkle

A new and often unexpected aspect, dimension, innovation, development, or stratagem. If proven to be true, the discovery could signal a new wrinkle in the way we think about the evolutionary process. Their new, and unorthodox, pitcher has brought a new wrinkle to the team's offensive game. Well, this is certainly a new wrinkle—no one foresaw that the experiment would yield a rubber-like substance.

add a new wrinkle

To bring or contribute a new and often unexpected aspect, dimension, innovation, development, or stratagem (to something). If proven to be true, the discovery could add a new wrinkle to the way we think about the evolutionary process. Their new, and unorthodox, pitcher has added a new wrinkle to the team's offensive game. Well, this certainly adds a new wrinkle—no one foresaw that the experiment would yield a rubber-like substance.

get the wrinkles out (of something)

1. Literally, to remove wrinkles from something, especially a piece of fabric, typically by using an iron or steamer. Your new dress shirt is all rumpled! You'll need to get the wrinkles out before you go to the ceremony this evening. I have to get the wrinkles out of this tablecloth before our guests arrive. I don't know if that little steamer will be powerful enough to get the wrinkles out of this material.

2. By extension, to ease, solve, or remove minor difficulties, troubles, or problematic details (of or in something). (Sometimes worded as "some wrinkles," "a few wrinkles," etc.) Our latest software update is nearly finished—we just need to get a few more wrinkles out before it's ready for release. When you need to get the wrinkles out of your life, turn to your friends and family for help and support. Bob and Janet are seeing a counselor to try and get the wrinkles out of their marriage.

iron out the wrinkles (of/in something)

1. Literally, to remove wrinkles from something, especially a piece of fabric, using a flatiron. Your new dress shirt is all rumpled! You'll need to iron out the wrinkles before you go to the ceremony this evening. I have to iron out the wrinkles in this tablecloth before our guests arrive. I'm sure the hotel has an iron, but I hate having to iron out the wrinkles in my clothes on vacation.

2. By extension, to ease, solve, or remove minor difficulties, troubles, or problematic details (of or in something). (Sometimes worded as "some wrinkles," "a few wrinkles," etc.) Our latest software update is nearly finished—we just need to iron out a few wrinkles before it's ready for release. Your friends and family are great means of support when you need to iron out the wrinkles of your life. Bob and Janet are seeing a counselor to try and iron out the wrinkles in their marriage.

iron the wrinkles out (of/in something)

1. Literally, to remove wrinkles from something, especially a piece of fabric, using a flatiron. Your new dress shirt is all rumpled! You'll need to iron the wrinkles out before you go to the ceremony this evening. I have to iron out the wrinkles in this tablecloth before our guests arrive. I'm sure the hotel has an iron, but I hate having to iron the wrinkles out of my clothes on vacation.

2. By extension, to ease, solve, or remove minor difficulties, troubles, or problematic details (of or in something). (Sometimes worded as "some wrinkles," "a few wrinkles," etc.) Our latest software update is nearly finished—we just need to iron a few wrinkles out before it's ready for release. Your friends and family are great means of support when you need to iron the wrinkles out in your life. Bob and Janet are seeing a counselor to try and iron some wrinkles out of their marriage.

legal wrinkle

1. A loophole, gray area, or exploitable flaw within a piece of legislation that allows something to happen contrary to the law's intended purpose. A legal wrinkle in the decades-old law is being used by the company to justify its expansion without the approval of the city council.

2. An unexpected legal development or implication. The court's decision is the latest legal wrinkle in the highly publicized case.

put a new wrinkle on/in (something)

To introduce or contribute a new and often unexpected aspect, dimension, innovation, development, or stratagem to something. If proven to be true, the discovery could put a new wrinkle on the way we think about the evolutionary process. Their new and unorthodox pitcher has put a new wrinkle in the team's offensive game.

wrinkle rod

obsolete slang The crankshaft of an automobile engine. The term was once used as jargon by assembly line workers. Hey Bill, bring some more wrinkle rods down to the factory floor, would you?

wrinkle up

1. To accumulate many wrinkles, as due to age or some external force. So many people are terrified of wrinkling up as they get older, but I've always seen it as something to embrace, or at least make peace with. I wish this shirt didn't wrinkle up so badly whenever I hang it out to dry.

2. To scrunch, pucker, or draw up into wrinkles. Her nose wrinkled up at the unpleasant suggestion. My granddad's eyes always wrinkled up in the most charming way whenever he smiled or laughed.

3. To form many wrinkles in something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "wrinkle" and "up." Please don't just shove these papers into your bag like that—you'll wrinkle them all up! I love taking baths, but the water always wrinkles up my fingers and toes.

4. To draw something up into a bunch of wrinkles; to pucker or scrunch something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "wrinkle" and "up." The child wrinkled his nose up when his mother set the food down in front of him. She wrinkled up her eyebrows in an expression of suspicion.

get the wrinkles out

(of something)

1. Lit. to remove the wrinkles from fabric by ironing or flattening in some way. This has been packed in my suitcase for a week, and I know I'll never be able to get the wrinkles out of it.

2. Fig. to eliminate some initial, minor problems with an invention, a procedure, a computer program, or a mechanical device. I need more time working with this system to get the wrinkles out.

wrinkle something up

to make something get wrinkles and creases. I love the way you wrinkle your nose up. Don't wrinkle up your jacket.

wrinkle up

[for something] to draw up in wrinkles; [for something] to become wrinkled. His nose wrinkled up as he smelled the burning pie. The cloth wrinkled up in the intense heat.

new wrinkle

A clever device or expedient, a novelty, as in The players added a new wrinkle to victory celebrations by tossing their shirts to the crowd after the game . In the form of simply a wrinkle, this expression dates from the mid-1700s, new being added two centuries later.

iron out the wrinkles

resolve all minor difficulties and snags.

Iron out has been in figurative use since the mid 19th century; it often occurs with other nouns, especially differences .

1984 New Yorker Willa had sold her story to Universal Pictures and was in California ironing out some wrinkles in the deal.

wrinkle

1. n. a new idea; a new aspect of something. Here’s a clever wrinkle for you. Nobody has ever tried this one.

2. n. a minor problem. A wrinkle has developed in the Wilson proposal.

wrinkle-rod

n. the crankshaft of an engine. A wrinkle-rod’ll set you back about $199, plus installation charges, of course.

new wrinkle, a

A happy expedient, a novel or different device. The transfer of “wrinkle” from rumpled clothing or age-lined skin took place in the 1800s, but the idea of novelty was added in the United States in the early 1900s. Jazz composer W. C. Handy used it in Father of the Blues (1941): “In addition to twirling their batons, they added the new wrinkle of tossing them back and forth.” This cliché is particularly popular with business journalists.