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tortiller

to twist, to wriggle

verb tor-tee-YEH Rare
Body & Health Movement

Usage Note

Tortiller often describes a twisting or writhing motion, as when someone fidgets or writhes in discomfort. The reflexive se tortiller means to wriggle or squirm, and is used for people twisting in their seat or snakes winding. The phrase il n'y a pas à tortiller means 'there's no way around it', a common idiom.

Examples

"Elle se tortillait sur sa chaise."

Natural Translation

She was wriggling in her chair.

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