Meaning
Wrangle has two main meanings:
- (verb) To argue or dispute in a noisy, angry, or complicated way.
- (verb) To manage, herd, or control animals, especially cattle or horses.
- (noun) A noisy quarrel or dispute.
Grammar and Usage
- Verb (intransitive): "to wrangle over something" → to argue about something.
- Verb (transitive): "to wrangle cattle" → to herd or control animals.
- Noun: "a wrangle" → a quarrel, argument, or dispute.
Sentence structures:
- wrangle over + noun (argue about something)
- wrangle with + noun (struggle with or argue with someone/something)
- wrangle cattle/horses (herd or control animals)
Common Phrases
- Legal wrangle → a prolonged legal dispute
- Wrangle over money → argue about finances
- Wrangle with problems → struggle with difficulties
Collocations
- wrangle over: contract, money, price, details
- legal wrangle: case, dispute, settlement
- wrangle cattle: horses, herd, ranch
Examples
- The two companies are still wrangling over the terms of the contract.
- He spent the afternoon wrangling cattle on his uncle’s ranch.
- There was a long legal wrangle about the property rights.
- The politicians continued to wrangle over the budget.
- She had to wrangle with her insurance company to get compensation.
- The children were wrangling about who would get the last cookie.
- The wrangle between the neighbors lasted for weeks.
- He had to wrangle with the software to make it work properly.
Synonyms or Related
- For disputes: argue, quarrel, bicker, squabble, feud
- For controlling animals: herd, drive, round up, manage