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to worm one's way out of sth
01
to avoid doing something by making excuses or being dishonest
What is the origin of the idiom "worm one's way out of something" and when to use it?
The idiom "worm one's way out of something" has its origins in the animal kingdom. It draws from the behavior of worms and weasels, known for their ability to escape tight spots or tricky situations by using their physical characteristics, such as a worm's ability to wriggle through small openings and a weasel's agility to evade predators. Over time, this imagery has been metaphorically applied to describe individuals who use clever or evasive tactics to avoid or escape from difficult, uncomfortable, or challenging circumstances.
Example
When confronted with his overdue assignment, the student tried to worm his way out of it by claiming his dog had eaten his homework.
