wrist
wrist
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for wrist is /rɪst/.
r - /r/ (as in run)
i - /ɪ/ (as in sit)
st - /st/ (as in list)
Word Form Variations
Singular: wrist
Plural: wrists
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
The joint connecting the hand with the forearm.
Synonyms: carpus, radiocarpal joint
Antonyms: (none)
The part of a garment, such as a sleeve or glove, that covers the wrist.
Synonyms: cuff, wristband
Antonyms: (none)
Examples of Use
Literature
Example: "He had abandoned his governorship at a time when the people of Virginia were desperately in need of a strong and persevering executive. Then he fell from a horse and broke his wrist."
Context: This describes a physical injury to the joint, a common literal use of the word.
Newspapers & Online Publications
Example: "The secret of making the ball spin is in the wrist action." (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
Context: In sports reporting, "wrist" is often used to describe the fine motor control and power generated from that joint, such as in tennis, baseball pitching, or golf.
Example: "She sent the ball flying over the net with a flick of the wrist."
Context: This common phrase, often found in sports journalism, highlights a quick, deft movement that appears effortless.
Entertainment (Music & Film)
Example: "I just want some ice on my wrist / So I look better when I dance." (From the song "Rolex" by Ayo & Teo)
Context: In hip-hop and pop culture, "ice on my wrist" is popular slang. "Ice" refers to diamonds, so the phrase means to wear an expensive, diamond-encrusted watch or bracelet.
Example: "You're gonna need a bigger boat. Check that wrist-radio."
Context: In action or science-fiction media, "wrist" is often a prefix for a futuristic gadget worn like a watch (e.g., wrist-communicator, wrist-computer).
General Public Discourse (Idioms)
Example: "He should have been fired for such a huge error, but he just got a slap on the wrist."
Context: This is a very common idiom. A "slap on the wrist" means a mild or token punishment that is much less severe than what was deserved.
Example: "She grabbed him by the wrist to get his attention."
Context: A common descriptive phrase in everyday conversation or storytelling to indicate pulling, leading, or stopping someone.
10 Famous Quotes Using Wrist
Why slap them on the wrist with a feather when you can belt them over the head with a sledgehammer. (Katharine Hepburn)
Whatever the right hand findeth to do, the left hand carries a watch on its wrist to show how long it takes to do it. (Ralph W. Sockman)
I have a tattoo on my wrist... and it says, 'She believed she could, so she did.' (Carly Pearce)
She can paint a lovely picture, but this story has a twist / her paintbrush is a razor, and her canvas is her wrist. (Amy Efaw, After)
He was afraid of touching his own wrist. (Vladimir Nabokov, Pnin)
One really beautiful wrist motion, that is synchronised with your head and heart, and you have it. (Helen Frankenthaler)
The world is like a broken wrist that healed the wrong way, and will never be the same again. (Frances Hardinge)
I've always had my wrist slapped for being myself. (Amy Schumer)
He turns my hand over and traces the fine lines on my palm... He leans down, presses his lips to my wrist in a feathery kiss. (Sophie Jordan, Firelight)
A guy can do white-collar crime and steal the money of thousands and he'll get probation and a slap on the wrist. (Jesse Ventura)
Etymology
In simple terms, the word wrist comes from an ancient root word that means "to twist."
The word "wrist" is very old and has been in the English language for over a thousand years. It comes directly from the Old English word wrist (and its variation wyrst).
When it first appeared in Old English, it meant the exact same thing it means today: the joint connecting the hand to the arm.
The reason it was called this is that the wrist is the body part that allows you to "twist" and "turn" your hand. You can still see this ancient "twisting" root in other English words that are related, such as:
Writhe: To twist the body in pain.
Wrest: To twist or pull something away violently.
Wry: Having a twisted or bent shape.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Wrist
A slap on the wrist: (A very mild punishment for a significant offense.)
It's all in the wrist: (A phrase used to explain that a difficult action is made easy by a skillful and subtle movement of the wrist.)
Flick of the wrist: (A quick, deft, and casual movement.)
Ice on my wrist: (Slang for wearing an expensive, diamond-encrusted watch or bracelet.)
Limp wrist: (An offensive or pejorative slang term.)
Sprained wrist: (A common injury.)
Twist someone's wrist: (A lesser-known variation of "twist someone's arm," meaning to pressure or persuade someone.)
Wrist action: (Used to describe the motion in sports like tennis, golf, or fly-fishing.)
Wrist band: (A band of cloth worn on the wrist, especially for sports.)
Wrist cuff: (The end of a sleeve covering the wrist.)
Wrist-deep: (An original phrase to describe being partially involved in something, similar to "ankle-deep" or "knee-deep.")
Wrist lock: (A joint-lock in martial arts that hyperextends the wrist.)
Wrist rocket: (A common brand name for a slingshot.)
Wrist shot: (A type of shot in ice hockey or lacrosse that is propelled by a quick snap of the wrist.)
Wrist strap: (A strap used to secure an item, like a camera or controller, to one's wrist.)
Wrist watch: (A watch worn on a strap on one's wrist.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of wrist from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
