The phrase "put through the wringer" means to subject someone to a harsh experience or situation. Some alternative phrases for this expression include "put through the grinder," "put to the test," "thrown to the wolves," "put through the ringer," and "run through the gauntlet." All of these phrases depict a difficult experience that someone is undergoing. Other phrases that may be used to express a similar idea include "put through hell," "put through the wringer and hung out to dry," or "put through the mill." To put it simply, these synonyms all suggest putting someone through an ordeal that's likely to test their resilience and endurance.