squeeze
squeeze — verb
1. to apply strong pressure on something with your hand, causing it to become flatt
to apply strong pressure on something with your hand, causing it to become flatter, more compact, or release liquid inside it
Lien squeezed the tube of toothpaste until the last bit came out.
squeeze + container + until
Sumin squeezed fresh oranges every morning to make juice for the family.
squeeze + fruit + to make + drink
The machine squeezes the grapes so that the juice flows into a large tank.
Heather squeezed the wet sponge over the sink until no more water dripped out.
William squeezed the plastic bottle to get the last drop of shampoo out.
- squeeze the tube
- squeeze a sponge
- squeeze oranges
- squeeze out
- squeeze dry
Grammar Patterns
squeeze + object
squeeze + object + out/from + noun
Usage Note
Commonly followed by a preposition like 'out', 'from', or 'into' to indicate the result or direction of the pressing.
Common Mistakes
2. to put your arms around someone and hold them tightly, usually to show love, com
to put your arms around someone and hold them tightly, usually to show love, comfort, or affection
Gita squeezed her daughter tightly before getting on the train.
squeeze + someone + tightly — common intensifier
Owen squeezed his grandmother's hand when she looked worried.
Tamar squeezed the crying child close and whispered soft words.
When they met at the airport, Eleni squeezed her brother for a full minute.
- squeeze someone tight
- squeeze someone's hand
- squeeze close
Grammar Patterns
squeeze + someone
squeeze + someone + tightly
Usage Note
Unlike 'hug', squeeze often suggests a brief, extra-tight embrace. Can be used with body parts like 'hand' or 'arm' for a comforting gesture.
3. to push yourself or an object into a gap or passage that is barely wide enough f
to push yourself or an object into a gap or passage that is barely wide enough for it to fit
Esteban squeezed through the narrow gap between the wall and the fence.
squeeze + through + [narrow space]
Four passengers squeezed into the back seat of Takeshi's compact car.
Sade squeezed the heavy suitcase into the overhead compartment with great effort.
Michael squeezed past the people standing in the aisle to reach his seat.
The movers squeezed the large sofa through the narrow doorway by turning it sideways.
- squeeze through
- squeeze into
- squeeze past
- squeeze in
Grammar Patterns
squeeze + object + into/through something
squeeze into/through/past + noun
Usage Note
Often reflexive ('squeeze yourself into') when the subject is the person who is moving into the tight space. Can also be used with time ('squeeze in a meeting').
Common Mistakes
4. to create financial difficulty for a person, company, or industry by limiting th
to create financial difficulty for a person, company, or industry by limiting the money or resources available
Small shops were squeezed when the big supermarket chain opened down the street.
passive: be squeezed + when/because
Many farmers were squeezed between rising fuel costs and falling crop prices.
Higher interest rates squeezed household budgets across the country last year.
Rising rents have squeezed young families trying to save for their first home.
- be squeezed by
- be squeezed between
- squeeze profits
- squeeze budgets
Grammar Patterns
be squeezed + by + noun
be squeezed + between + noun + and + noun
Usage Note
Very common in business journalism and economic discussions. Often used in the passive voice (be squeezed). The pattern 'squeezed between X and Y' describes pressure from two sides.
5. to obtain money, information, or a promise from someone by putting strong pressu
to obtain money, information, or a promise from someone by putting strong pressure on them or by threatening them
The detective squeezed a full confession out of the suspect after hours of questioning.
squeeze + [something] + out of + [someone]
Loan sharks squeezed the family for every last dollar they had.
Journalists tried to squeeze more details from the spokesperson at the press conference.
The kidnappers squeezed a huge ransom from the wealthy businessman's family.
- squeeze money out of
- squeeze information from
- squeeze a confession
Grammar Patterns
squeeze + something + out of + someone
Usage Note
This sense always takes a two-part structure: squeeze X out of Y or squeeze X from Y. The object is typically something abstract or valuable like information, money, or a promise.
6. to succeed in doing something by a very small margin or with extreme difficulty
to succeed in doing something by a very small margin or with extreme difficulty
The team squeezed out a narrow 2–1 victory in the final minutes of the game.
squeeze out + [narrow result]
Eleni squeezed through her final exams by studying every night for two weeks.
The new law squeezed through parliament with only two votes to spare.
Sade squeezed past the first round of interviews by answering every question with confidence.
- squeeze through
- squeeze out a win
- squeeze past
- scrape
more informal; 'scrape through' suggests barely passing
- edge
suggests winning by a very small amount
- narrowly succeed
more formal; describes the outcome directly
- fail
to not succeed
- fall short
to almost succeed but not quite
Grammar Patterns
squeeze + through + noun
squeeze + out + noun phrase
Usage Note
Common in sports, politics, and academic contexts. The key nuance is that success is real but was very close to failure. Often used with 'through' (for a process) or 'out' (for a result).
squeeze from
phrasal verbTo obtain something from someone or something with difficulty, often by applying pressure.
The detective squeezed a confession from the suspect after hours of questioning.
Can you squeeze any more juice from this lemon?
squeeze in
phrasal verbTo manage to fit someone or something into a tight space or schedule.
The dentist managed to squeeze me in between two appointments.
We squeezed in a quick lunch before the movie started.
squeeze out
phrasal verbTo force something out by pressing, or to force someone to leave a position or group.
She squeezed out the last bit of toothpaste from the tube.
The new manager squeezed out the older employees by making their jobs difficult.
squeeze out of
phrasal verbTo obtain something from someone with difficulty, often by applying pressure or persuasion.
The lawyer squeezed a settlement out of the insurance company.
How did you squeeze that extra day off out of your boss?
squeeze up
phrasal verbTo move closer together in order to make space for someone or something.
Everyone squeezed up on the bench to make room for Sara.
Could you squeeze up a bit so I can sit down?
squeeze somebody dry
idiomTo take all of someone's money, resources, or information until they have nothing left.
The landlord squeezed his tenants dry with constant rent increases.
After the interview, the reporter squeezed the politician dry for details.
squeeze — noun
1. the action of applying strong hand pressure to something, often to extract liqui
the action of applying strong hand pressure to something, often to extract liquid or make it more compact
Heather gave the tube a firm squeeze and the last bit of paint came out.
give + [container] + a squeeze
A quick squeeze of the lemon added a fresh, sour taste to the fish dish.
a squeeze of + [fruit]
The nurse gave the rubber bulb a gentle squeeze to pump the blood pressure cuff.
With one squeeze of the trigger, the whole lock shattered into pieces.
- a firm squeeze
- a gentle squeeze
- a squeeze of the trigger
- give it a squeeze
- press
can be a noun too, but broader; a press can be any push
- compression
more technical, used in engineering and science
Grammar Patterns
a + squeeze + of + noun
give + noun + a + squeeze
Usage Note
Often appears in the pattern 'give something a squeeze' or 'a squeeze of something'. The countable use emphasizes a single, deliberate pressing action.
2. an act of putting your arms around someone and holding them tightly as a loving
an act of putting your arms around someone and holding them tightly as a loving or comforting gesture
Sade gave her little brother a warm squeeze before he got on the school bus.
give + someone + a + [adjective] + squeeze
Vivek's grandmother held him in a tight squeeze when he arrived for the holiday.
A quick squeeze from her mother made Eleni feel braver before the performance.
Liam gave his little sister a squeeze and promised to write every week.
- a warm squeeze
- a tight squeeze
- a quick squeeze
- give someone a squeeze
Grammar Patterns
give + someone + a + squeeze
Usage Note
Similar to 'hug' but suggests a tighter, often more brief embrace. Very common in the pattern 'give someone a squeeze'.
3. a reduction in the amount of money, jobs, or resources that a person or organiza
a reduction in the amount of money, jobs, or resources that a person or organization has available
The company announced a major squeeze on travel and entertainment expenses.
a squeeze on + [expense type]
The budget squeeze forced the local school to cancel its art and music programs.
Small farmers felt the squeeze when the price of grain dropped by nearly forty percent.
feel the squeeze
The hospital is facing a severe squeeze on staff after the latest funding cuts.
- a squeeze on
- feel the squeeze
- budget squeeze
- credit squeeze
- cut
more direct; a reduction in spending
- reduction
neutral and general
- tightening
suggests making rules stricter, not just reducing quantity
Grammar Patterns
a + squeeze + on + noun
Usage Note
Often used with 'feel' ('feel the squeeze') to describe experiencing financial pressure. The phrase 'a squeeze on' specifies what is being reduced.
4. a period when banks and other lenders have little money to lend, making it very
a period when banks and other lenders have little money to lend, making it very hard for people and businesses to borrow
During the credit squeeze, many young families could not get approval for a mortgage.
credit squeeze — financial term
Beatriz's small bakery went under during the worst cash squeeze in a decade.
The economic squeeze of 2023 made it almost impossible for new businesses to get loans.
Economists warned that a liquidity squeeze could slow down the entire housing market.
- credit squeeze
- cash squeeze
- liquidity squeeze
- economic squeeze
- credit crunch
more common in everyday news; same meaning
- liquidity crisis
more technical; shortage of cash in the system
- recession
broader; a general economic downturn, not just lending
- credit boom
a period when loans are easy to get
Grammar Patterns
a + credit/cash + squeeze
Usage Note
Distinct from sense 3: this specifically describes a macroeconomic credit shortage, not just internal budget cuts. Common compounds: 'credit squeeze', 'cash squeeze', 'liquidity squeeze'.
5. a situation where a large number of people or items occupy an area that is far t
a situation where a large number of people or items occupy an area that is far too small for comfort
It was a tight squeeze with six passengers and a driver in the small van.
a tight squeeze — common idiom for crowded spaces
It was a tight squeeze for fans near the back of the concert hall.
Brandon and his friends endured the squeeze on the rush-hour train every morning.
It'll be a bit of a squeeze to fit six people around that small table.
- a tight squeeze
- a bit of a squeeze
- stand in a squeeze
Grammar Patterns
a + tight + squeeze
be + a + squeeze
Usage Note
Very commonly used in the fixed phrase 'a tight squeeze' to describe an uncomfortably crowded situation. Can apply to physical spaces or schedules ('a tight squeeze' time-wise).
6. (informal) a person's boyfriend, girlfriend, or romantic partner
(informal) a person's boyfriend, girlfriend, or romantic partner
Tamar introduced her new squeeze to the whole family at the New Year dinner.
informal: possessive + squeeze = romantic partner
Is your squeeze coming to the barbecue on Saturday? Everyone wants to meet them.
William and his squeeze have been dating for almost two years now.
Rania showed everyone a photo of her new squeeze at the office party.
- my squeeze
- his squeeze
- her squeeze
- your squeeze
- boyfriend
more direct and common; specifies gender
- girlfriend
more direct and common; specifies gender
- partner
more neutral and formal; can be any relationship
Grammar Patterns
possessive + squeeze
Usage Note
Very informal and slightly playful or old-fashioned. Almost always appears with a possessive (my squeeze, his squeeze, your squeeze).
Word family
- squeezableadjectiveB2
- squeezernounB2
- squeezingnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Squeeze, compress, crush, squash, and wring all involve applying pressure, but differ in method and result. Squeeze suggests pressing from all sides using your hands, often to extract liquid or change shape — you squeeze a tube of toothpaste or squeeze an orange. Compress is more technical and means to press something so it takes up less space, like compressing a file on a computer or compressing a spring. Crush implies pressing so hard that the object breaks or is destroyed — you crush a soda can under your foot or crush garlic with a knife. Squash means to press something flat or out of shape, often by accident — you might squash a cardboard box or squash a mosquito against the wall. Wring specifically means to squeeze and twist, especially cloth or clothing, to remove water — you wring out a wet towel after swimming. For example: Lien squeezed the tube, the scientist compressed the gas, Michael crushed the can, Beatriz squashed the paper cup, and Vivek wrung out his soaked shirt.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'squeeze' comes from Middle English 'queisen', which came from Old English 'cwȳsan', meaning to press or crush. It is related to the Dutch word 'kwetsen' (to hurt or bruise) and the German word 'quetschen' (to crush or mash). The original meaning of physical pressing has been in use since before the 12th century, while the financial and figurative meanings developed much later, in the 19th and 20th centuries.