Definition

Phrasal Verb: - To barely succeed or manage, especially in a difficult situation: To achieve something by a very narrow margin or with minimal resources. - To narrowly escape or avoid failure: To get through a challenging circumstance with difficulty.

Usage Examples

• Financial/Resource Context:
  • With careful budgeting, they managed to squeak by on their limited income.
  • The small business is just squeaking by each month.
• Success/Qualification Context:
  • He studied all night and squeaked by with a passing grade on the exam.
  • The team squeaked by into the playoffs with a last-minute win.

Advanced Usage

• "squeak by on something": To manage to survive or cope using a specific, often insufficient, resource.
  • Many families squeak by on government assistance.
• "squeak by with something": To achieve a specific, often minimal, outcome.
  • She squeaked by with the minimum number of votes needed to win the nomination.

Variants and Related Words

• Squeak (verb): To make a short, high-pitched sound. Figuratively, it can also mean to barely succeed, forming the basis for this phrasal verb.
• Squeaker (noun, informal): A contest or election won by a very narrow margin.
  • The election was a real squeaker.

Synonyms

• Scrape by: To manage with difficulty, often financially.
• Get by: To manage to live or survive, especially with limited means.
• Muddle through: To manage to do something despite lack of proper planning or skill.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Scrape through: Similar to "squeak by," often used for barely passing a test or qualification.
  • He didn't study much but somehow scraped through the course.
• Squeeze by: A very close synonym, meaning to manage with great difficulty, often in a tight space or with limited resources.
  • We can squeeze by if we cut all unnecessary expenses.

Related Idioms

• By the skin of one's teeth: To only just succeed in doing something.
  • He passed the final exam by the skin of his teeth.
• Make ends meet: To have just enough money to pay for one's basic needs.
  • It's hard to make ends meet on a single salary.

Verb

1. escape
   • She squeaked by me
2. manage one's existence barely
   • I guess I can squeeze by on this lousy salary