Wrest Control – Meaning and Examples

In competitive situations, people sometimes need to take authority from others through determined effort. In English, we say they wrest control to describe this active takeover. This strong idiom describes gaining power through struggle and determination.

What Does “Wrest Control” Mean?

“Wrest control” means to take power, authority, or command from someone through force, effort, or struggle. Think of it like taking something valuable from someone who doesn’t want to give it up. It implies difficulty and resistance in gaining control.

When to Use It

Use this idiom when describing takeovers in business or politics. Use it when talking about gaining control in difficult situations. Use it in sports when one team dominates after being behind. It is a strong phrase that emphasizes effort and struggle in gaining power.

Example Sentences

The rebel forces tried to wrest control of the capital city.
After a difficult battle, the new CEO managed to wrest control from the founding family.
The home team wrested control of the game in the second half.
She struggled to wrest control of the project from her difficult colleague.

Mini Dialogue

News Analyst: “The company’s board has been in chaos for months.”

Business Expert: “Yes, and now the major shareholders are trying to wrest control from the current leadership.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Remember, this idiom implies struggle and effort. Don’t use it for peaceful or easy transitions of power.

❌ Don’t say: “The manager peacefully wrested control when her boss retired.” (Use “took over” or “assumed control” instead).
✅ Do say: “The opposition party fought hard to wrest control of parliament in the election.”

Practice Tip

Watch a sports game or business news and notice when one side gains dominance after a struggle. Create a sentence like “[Team/Group] wrested control from [other team/group] during [specific moment].” This helps you connect the idiom to real competitive situations.

Final Note

You now know how to use “wrest control” to describe taking authority or power through effort and struggle. This powerful phrase will help you talk about competitive takeovers and difficult transitions of power. Use it to emphasize the challenge and determination involved in gaining control!

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