squeeze

[skweez] /skwiz/
verb (used with object), squeezed, squeezing.
1.
to press forcibly together; compress.
2.
to apply pressure to in order to extract juice, sap, or the like:
to squeeze an orange.
3.
to force out, extract, or procure by pressure:
to squeeze juice from an orange.
4.
to thrust forcibly; force by pressure; cram:
to squeeze three suits into a small suitcase.
5.
to fit into a small or crowded space or timespan:
The doctor will try to squeeze you in between appointments.
6.
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.
7.
to give (someone) a hug.
8.
to threaten, intimidate, harass, or oppress (a person) in order to obtain a favor, money, or an advantageous attitude or action.
9.
to cause financial hardship to:
manufacturers squeezed by high tariffs.
10.
to obtain a facsimile impression of.
11.
to cause to merge, as two or more lines of traffic into fewer lanes.
12.
Baseball.
  1. 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.
  2. to score (a run) in this way (often followed by in):
    The Dodgers squeezed in a run in the eighth inning.
13.
Bridge. to force (an opponent) to play a potentially winning card on a trick he or she cannot win.
verb (used without object), squeezed, squeezing.
14.
to exert a compressing force.
15.
to force a way through some narrow or crowded place (usually followed by through, in, out, etc.).
16.
to merge or come together.
noun
17.
the act or fact of squeezing or the fact of being squeezed.
18.
a clasping of one's hand around another's hand, arm, etc., as a token of affection, friendship, sympathy, or the like.
19.
a hug or close embrace.
20.
a troubled financial condition, especially caused by a shortage or restriction, as of credit or funds.
21.
a small quantity or amount of anything obtained by squeezing.
22.
squeak (def 3).
23.
Slang. a sweetheart:
his main squeeze.
24.
a facsimile impression of an inscription or the like, obtained by pressing some plastic substance over or around it.
25.
squeeze play.
26.
Bridge. a play or circumstance whereby an opponent is forced to waste or discard a potentially winning card.
27.
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.
28.
money or a favor obtained in such a way.
Origin
1590-1600; perhaps variant of obsolete squize (Old English cwȳsan) to squeeze, with initial s by false division of words in sandhi
Related forms
squeezer, noun
squeezingly, adverb
intersqueeze, verb (used with object), intersqueezed, intersqueezing.
unsqueezed, adjective
Synonyms
4. crowd, pack, jam, stuff.
Examples from the web for squeeze
  • squeeze a lemon over them, using your fingers to coat any exposed parts of the fruit.
  • However, some private-equity firms are under pressure to squeeze more money out of their investments, and quickly.
  • First, that as you squeeze the bottle the pressure increases and the volume of trapped air decreases.
  • Taxes can be raised only on people who have money, you can't squeeze blood from a stone.
  • And restaurateurs have to think of novel ways to squeeze more money out of their square footage.
  • In a squeeze play, a runner charges home from third base as the batter bunts.
  • More public universities are striving to squeeze into the top tier.
  • The monster constrictors can also squeeze the life out much larger prey before swallowing it whole.
  • The machine hopes to trap and squeeze hydrogen isotopes until they fuse together to form helium, releasing energy.
  • There are even drums with flexible flanks that you squeeze under your arm to change their tone.
British Dictionary definitions for squeeze

squeeze

/skwiːz/
verb (mainly transitive)
1.
to grip or press firmly, esp so as to crush or distort; compress
2.
to crush or press (something) so as to extract (a liquid): to squeeze the juice from an orange, to squeeze an orange
3.
to apply gentle pressure to, as in affection or reassurance: he squeezed her hand
4.
to push or force in a confined space: to squeeze six lettuces into one box, to squeeze through a crowd
5.
to hug closely
6.
to oppress with exacting demands, such as excessive taxes
7.
to exert pressure on (someone) in order to extort (something): to squeeze money out of a victim by blackmail
8.
(intransitive) to yield under pressure
9.
to make an impression of (a coin, etc) in a soft substance
10.
(bridge, whist) to lead a card that forces (opponents) to discard potentially winning cards
noun
11.
the act or an instance of squeezing or of being squeezed
12.
a hug or handclasp
13.
a crush of people in a confined space
14.
(mainly Brit) a condition of restricted credit imposed by a government to counteract price inflation
15.
an impression, esp of a coin, etc, made in a soft substance
16.
an amount extracted by squeezing: add a squeeze of lemon juice
17.
(commerce) any action taken by a trader or traders on a market that forces buyers to make purchases and prices to rise
18.
(informal) pressure brought to bear in order to extort something (esp in the phrase put the squeeze on)
19.
(bridge, whist) Also called squeeze play. a manoeuvre that forces opponents to discard potentially winning cards
20.
(informal) a person with whom one is having a romantic relationship
Derived Forms
squeezable, adjective
squeezer, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Middle English queysen to press, from Old English cwӯsan
Word Origin and History for squeeze
v.

c.1600, probably an alteration of quease (c.1550), from Old English cwysan "to squeeze," of unknown origin, perhaps imitative (cf. German quetschen "to squeeze"). Slang expression to put the squeeze on (someone or something) "exert influence" is from 1711. Baseball squeeze play first recorded 1905. Main squeeze "most important person" is attested from 1896; meaning "one's sweetheart, lover" is attested by 1980.

Slang definitions & phrases for squeeze

squeeze

noun
  1. A situation of great pressure or peril; crunch: I'm afraid we're in something of a squeeze just now
  2. One's romantic partner; lover
Related Terms

main squeeze, put the squeeze on someone


Idioms and Phrases with squeeze

squeeze

also see: