To extricate or insinuate oneself or reach a goal as if by wriggling

Question

1 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wriggle

intransitive verb

3 : to extricate or insinuate oneself or reach a goal as if by wriggling

transitive verb

2 : to introduce, insinuate, or bring into a state or place by or as if by wriggling

[M-W's Col. Dic.]

I don't understand the underlined parts. What does "wriggling" suggests in those pieces? How can one insinuate, introduce, or reach a goal by something suggestive of wriggling? Please guide me.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Hi, Jackson. Have you checked the definitions of "insinuate"? I suspect you'll find more than one.

Think of Santa Clause wriggling down the chimney.
That's intransitive. He just does it. He doesn't do it TO anybody or anything.

I wriggled a rolled up piece of paper into my ear canal to stop the confounded itching.
That's transitive, "piece" being the direct object.

You can wriggle [something] in or wriggle [something] out.

Figuratively, "He wriggled himself into our conversation."

To extricate or insinuate oneself or reach a goal as if by wriggling

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