wriggling out of
Slipping away from
Wriggling out of is escaping or avoiding something—usually an obligation, commitment, or difficult situation—through evasive or slippery maneuvering rather than direct confrontation.
The image is of a creature twisting free from a grip: He's always wriggling out of doing the dishes, She wriggled out of the contract on a technicality.
The phrase implies the escape is somewhat underhanded or at least not straightforward.
- slippingLosing footing unintentionally
- slipping awayGradually leaving or diminishing
- squirmingTwisting restlessly from discomfort
- evadingSkillfully keeping away from
- rationalizingInventing acceptable explanations afterward
diverting · shirking · passing the buck · excusing · making excuses · dodging · avoiding · denying · finagling · escaping · maneuvering · weaseling · sidestepping · backpedaling · bypassing · twisting · manipulating · deflecting
wriggling out offacing up to
Accepting something difficult
shouldering · answering for · standing up to · acknowledging
wriggling out ofhonoring
Recognizing with respect
fulfilling · seeing through · sticking to · standing by · keeping