Meaning & use
twist
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To bend or turn something so that it changes shape, often into a spiral.
Grammar: Takes an object: twist the wire.
Patterns
- twist something
- twist something around something
- twist something into something
She twisted the wire into a small circle.
He twisted the lid off the jar.
The child twisted the balloon into the shape of a dog.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To turn your body or a part of your body around quickly.
Grammar: Can be used with or without an object: She twisted her ankle. / She twisted around to look.
Patterns
- twist something
- twist around
- twist to do something
He twisted his head to see who was behind him.
She twisted around to grab the phone.
I twisted my knee while playing football.
verbtransitivedisapproving
To change the meaning of someone's words so they are no longer true.
Grammar: Often used with 'words' or 'meaning': twist someone's words.
Patterns
- twist something
- twist someone's words
The newspaper twisted his words to make a shocking headline.
Don't twist what I said—I meant the opposite.
She felt that her comments had been twisted by the reporter.
nouncountable
An unexpected change in events, especially in a story or situation.
Grammar: Countable: a twist, the twist, twists.
Patterns
- a twist in something
- a twist of fate
- the plot takes a twist
The movie has a surprising twist at the end.
There was an unexpected twist in the negotiations.
By a strange twist of fate, they met again years later.
nouncountable
A small piece of something, especially citrus peel, used to flavor a drink.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'a twist of lemon'.
Patterns
- a twist of lemon
- a twist of lime
She added a twist of lemon to her tea.
The cocktail is garnished with a twist of orange peel.
Could I have a glass of water with a twist of lime?
Word forms
| third person singular | twists |
|---|---|
| past tense | twisted |
| past participle | twisted |
| -ing form | twisting |
| plural | twists |
Common combinations
- twist and turn
- The road twisted and turned through the mountains.
- twist someone's arm
- I had to twist his arm to get him to come to the party.
- twist of fate
- By a twist of fate, she got the job she had always wanted.
- plot twist
- The plot twist in the final chapter surprised everyone.
- twist off
- He twisted off the cap and took a drink.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bend
- Bend means to curve something, but it does not always suggest a spiral shape; twist often implies turning around an axis.
- turn
- Turn is more general and can mean a simple rotation; twist often suggests force or a resulting distortion.
- wind
- Wind means to wrap around something, often repeatedly; twist can mean a single turn or a spiral shape.
- distort
- Distort means to change something so it is no longer true or natural; twist is often used for words or facts in a similar way but is more informal.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: twist or twist?
twist vs twist
Do not confuse with 'twist' and 'twitch'. Twitch means a sudden small movement of a muscle, not a bend or turn.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The pattern is 'twist something into something' when you change its shape. 'In' would mean the wire was already a circle, and 'on' or 'at' do not fit the meaning of shaping.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “twist”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.