squeak

[skweek] /skwik/
noun
1.
a short, sharp, shrill cry; a sharp, high-pitched sound.
2.
Informal. opportunity; chance:
their last squeak to correct the manuscript.
3.
an escape from defeat, danger, death, or destruction (usually qualified by narrow or close).
verb (used without object)
4.
to utter or emit a squeak or squeaky sound.
5.
Slang. to confess or turn informer; squeal.
verb (used with object)
6.
to utter or sound with a squeak or squeaks.
Verb phrases
7.
squeak by/through, to succeed, survive, pass, win, etc., by a very narrow margin:
They can barely squeak by on their income. The team managed to squeak through.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English squeken, perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Swedish skväka to croak
Related forms
squeakingly, adverb
British Dictionary definitions for squeak by

squeak

/skwiːk/
noun
1.
a short shrill cry or high-pitched sound
2.
(informal) an escape (esp in the phrases narrow squeak, near squeak)
verb
3.
to make or cause to make a squeak
4.
(intransitive; usually foll by through or by) to pass with only a narrow margin: to squeak through an examination
5.
(intransitive) (informal) to confess information about oneself or another
6.
(transitive) to utter with a squeak
Derived Forms
squeaker, noun
squeaky, adjective
squeakily, adverb
squeakiness, noun
Word Origin
C17: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish skväka to croak
Word Origin and History for squeak by

squeak

v.

late 14c., probably of imitative origin, similar to Middle Swedish skväka "to squeak, croak." Related: Squeaked; squeaking. The noun is from 1660s; sense of "narrow escape" is from 1822.

Slang definitions & phrases for squeak by

squeak by

verb phrase

To pass, succeed, achieve a goal, etc, by the narrowest of margins: He just barely squeaked through his medical boards (1938+)


Idioms and Phrases with squeak by

squeak by

Also, squeak through. Manage barely to pass, win, survive, or the like, as in They are just squeaking by on their income, or He squeaked through the driver's test. This idiom transfers squeak in the sense of “barely emit a sound” to “narrowly manage something.” [ First half of 1900s ]
Also see: squeeze through