I. twist 1 S3 /twɪst/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ twist , ↑ twister ; verb : ↑ twist ; adjective : ↑ twisted ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old English ; Origin: twist 'rope' ]
1 . MOVE [intransitive and transitive]
a) to turn a part of your body around or change your position by turning:
He twisted his head slightly, and looked up at her.
twist round/around
She twisted round, so that she could see the dog better.
b) if you twist your mouth or features, you smile in an unpleasant way or look angry, disapproving etc:
His mouth twisted in a humourless smile.
2 . BEND [transitive] to bend or turn something, such as wire, hair, or cloth, into a particular shape
twist something into something
She twisted her handkerchief into a knot.
twist something together
Twist the two ends of the wire together.
3 . WIND [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to wind something around or through an object
twist something round/around/through etc something
She twisted a silk scarf round her neck.
Ann twisted some daisies through Katherine’s thick brown hair.
4 . TURN [transitive] to turn something in a circle using your hand
twist something off (something)
Jack twisted the cap off the bottle.
5 . ROAD/RIVER [intransitive] if a road, river etc twists, it changes direction in a series of curves:
The road twisted between spectacular mountains.
6 . WORDS [transitive] to change the true or intended meaning of a statement, especially in order to get some advantage for yourself:
He’s always trying to twist my words and make me look bad.
7 . twist your ankle/wrist/knee to hurt your wrist etc by pulling or turning it too suddenly while you are moving:
Harriet slipped on the stairs and twisted her ankle.
8 . twist and turn
a) if a path, road, stream etc twists and turns, it has a lot of bends in it:
The river twists and turns through the green fields.
b) if a person or animal twists and turns, they make twisting movements
9 . twist sb’s arm
a) informal to persuade someone to do something they do not want to do:
No one twisted my arm about coming to see you.
b) to bend someone’s arm upwards behind their back in order to hurt them:
The policeman twisted my arm behind me and arrested me.
⇨ twist/wrap somebody around your little finger at ↑ finger 1 (8), ⇨ twist the knife (in the wound) at ↑ knife 1 (3)
II. twist 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ twist , ↑ twister ; verb : ↑ twist ; adjective : ↑ twisted ]
1 . an unexpected feature or change in a situation or series of events
a new/cruel/unexpected/strange etc twist
The robbery took a deadly new twist as the robber pulled out a gun.
an unexpected twist in the plot
By an amazing twist of fate, we met again in Madrid five years later.
2 . a twisting action or movement:
He smiled, a slow cynical twist of his lips.
3 . a bend in a river or road
4 . a small piece of something that is twisted into a particular shape
twist of
a twist of lemon
5 . the twist a popular fast dance from the 1960s in which you twist your body from side to side
6 . round the twist British English spoken
a) crazy:
‘The woman’s mad,’ she told herself. ‘She’s round the twist.’
b) very angry
—twisty adjective :
a twisty road
⇨ (don’t) get your knickers in a twist at ↑ knickers (3)