wring

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verb (past wrung /rəNG/)

[with object]

• squeeze and twist (something) to force liquid from it:she wrung the cloth out in the sink
• extract (liquid) by squeezing and twisting something:I wrung out the excess water
• break (an animal’s neck) by twisting it forcibly.
• squeeze (someone’s hand) tightly, especially with sincere emotion.
• obtain (something) with difficulty or effort:few concessions were wrung from the government
• cause pain or distress to:the letter must have wrung her heart

noun

[in singular]

• an act of squeezing or twisting something.

Phrases

wring one's hands

clasp and twist one’s hands together as a gesture of great distress, especially when one is powerless to change the situation.

Origin:

Old English wringan (verb); related to Dutch wringen, also to wrong

Do not confuse wring with ring. Wring means 'twist or squeeze something' (I wanted to wring his neck), whereas the verb ring mainly means 'surround someone or something' (the courthouse was ringed with police) or 'make a clear sound' (a bell started to ring).