Idiom – Get A Wriggle On

English Idiom – Get a wriggle on or Get a wiggle on.

Meaning – Hurry up. This expression is used when you want to tell someone (quite forcefully) to do something faster.

In the UK get a wriggle on is more common. In the US get a wiggle on is used more.

Similar idioms include get your skates on and chop chop. The slang expression skedaddle can be used if you have to leave a place quickly.

The verbs wriggle and wiggle are similar – but not exactly the same.

  • To wiggle means to move in any direction with small, quick movements.
  • To wriggle means to twist and turn, especially if you are trying to remove yourself from a trap.

Still confused? This animations might help:

wiggle

wriggle

Usage:

When could you use this idiom?

  • If somebody is taking too long to get ready.
  • When a person is taking too long to finish doing something.
  • If someone is walking too slowly.
  • When you are losing patience with someone!

Example:

  • “What’s taking you so long? If you don’t get a wriggle on we are going to miss our flight!”

In The News:

“If, like us, you’ve still got a zillion things to send in the Christmas post, you’d better get a wriggle on because strike action is taking place on 14, 15, 23 and 24 December.”

Discuss:

  • Is there an idiom like this in your country?

What is an idiom?

An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally.  An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.

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