squeeze
to press forcibly together; compress.
to apply pressure to in order to extract juice, sap, or the like: The tool is used to squeeze an orange.
to force out, extract, or procure by pressure: For this cocktail, first squeeze the juice from a pineapple.
to thrust forcibly; force by pressure; cram: I squeezed three suits into a small suitcase and now I'm afraid to unpack.
to fit into a small or crowded space or timespan: The doctor will try to squeeze you in between appointments.
to enclose (another person's hand, arm, etc.) in one's hand and apply pressure as a token of affection, friendship, sympathy, or the like: His father squeezed his hand and wished him luck.
to give (someone) a hug.
to threaten, intimidate, harass, or oppress (a person) in order to obtain a favor, money, or an advantageous attitude or action.
to cause financial hardship to: Manufacturers squeezed by high tariffs have stopped offering international shipping.
to obtain a facsimile impression of.
to cause to merge, as two or more lines of traffic into fewer lanes.
Baseball.
to enable (a runner on third base) to score on a squeeze play (often followed by in): He squeezed him in with a perfect bunt.
to score (a run) in this way (often followed by in): The Dodgers squeezed in a run in the eighth inning.
Bridge. to force (an opponent) to play a potentially winning card on a trick they cannot win.
to exert a compressing force: She took his hand and squeezed hard.
to force one's way through some narrow or crowded place (usually followed by through, in, out, etc.): It was so crowded we could barely squeeze through the passageway.
to merge or come together.
the act or fact of squeezing or the fact of being squeezed: It'll be a bit of a squeeze to get them all in the same taxi.
a clasping of one's hand around another's hand, arm, etc., as a token of affection, friendship, sympathy, or the like.
a hug or close embrace.
a troubled financial condition, especially caused by a shortage or restriction, as of credit or funds.
a small quantity or amount of anything obtained by squeezing: It just needs a squeeze of lemon juice.
Slang. a sweetheart: his main squeeze.
a facsimile impression of an inscription or the like, obtained by pressing some plastic substance over or around it.
Bridge. a play or circumstance whereby an opponent is forced to waste or discard a potentially winning card.
an act of threatening, intimidating, harassing, or oppressing a person or persons to obtain a favor, money, or an advantageous attitude or action: gangsters putting the squeeze on small businesses.
money or a favor obtained in such a way.
Origin of squeeze
1Other words for squeeze
Other words from squeeze
- squeez·er, noun
- squeez·ing·ly, adverb
- in·ter·squeeze, verb (used with object), in·ter·squeezed, in·ter·squeez·ing.
- un·squeezed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use squeeze in a sentence
As for the Italians, they are either absurd tear-squeezers or more absurd harlequins.
A Book of Prefaces | H. L. MenckenThese useful little numbers have given their name of squeezers, or indexed cards to this fashion.
Prophetical, Educational and Playing Cards | Mrs. John King Van RensselaerAfter the process of washing by the dash-wheel, the water is expressed from the cloth by means of the squeezers already described.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines | Andrew UreLovely woman must not be kept waiting for “duck-squeezers” or anything else.
Cakes & Ale | Edward SpencerThis in later years would have been no very great undertaking, but at that time "squeezers" and branding "chutes" were not known.
Ranching, Sport and Travel | Thomas Carson
British Dictionary definitions for squeeze
/ (skwiːz) /
to grip or press firmly, esp so as to crush or distort; compress
to crush or press (something) so as to extract (a liquid): to squeeze the juice from an orange; to squeeze an orange
to apply gentle pressure to, as in affection or reassurance: he squeezed her hand
to push or force in a confined space: to squeeze six lettuces into one box; to squeeze through a crowd
to hug closely
to oppress with exacting demands, such as excessive taxes
to exert pressure on (someone) in order to extort (something): to squeeze money out of a victim by blackmail
(intr) to yield under pressure
to make an impression of (a coin, etc) in a soft substance
bridge whist to lead a card that forces (opponents) to discard potentially winning cards
the act or an instance of squeezing or of being squeezed
a hug or handclasp
a crush of people in a confined space
mainly British a condition of restricted credit imposed by a government to counteract price inflation
an impression, esp of a coin, etc, made in a soft substance
an amount extracted by squeezing: add a squeeze of lemon juice
commerce any action taken by a trader or traders on a market that forces buyers to make purchases and prices to rise
informal pressure brought to bear in order to extort something (esp in the phrase put the squeeze on)
Also called: squeeze play bridge whist a manoeuvre that forces opponents to discard potentially winning cards
informal a person with whom one is having a romantic relationship
Origin of squeeze
1Derived forms of squeeze
- squeezable, adjective
- squeezer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with squeeze
In addition to the idioms beginning with squeeze
- squeeze off
- squeeze play
- squeeze through
also see:
- main squeeze
- put the arm (squeeze) on
- tight squeeze
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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