Wrangle

/ˈræŋɡəl/ verb

Definition

To herd livestock by riding a horse; also means to argue, quarrel, or negotiate in a difficult way.

Etymology

From Spanish 'rangla' and German 'wrangeln,' the word originally meant to herd and manage horses or cattle. The figurative meaning of arguing developed from the difficulty and struggle involved in that physical activity.

Kelly Says

Cowboys and ranch hands still use 'wrangle' to describe managing wild horses, and interestingly, project managers in tech companies now talk about 'wrangling' data or 'wrangling' teams through difficult negotiations!

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