Definition

Noun: 1. The act of applying pressure by pressing firmly from multiple sides: The action of gripping something and applying inward pressure, often to extract something, express emotion, or fit into a confined space. 2. A situation of being pressed or crowded: A state of being in a tight or confined space, often with limited room to move.

Usage Examples

• He removed the juice by squeezing the orange.
• She gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.
• Getting all the luggage into the small car was a tight squeeze.
• The squeezing of the crowd made it difficult to breathe.

Advanced Usage

• Financial/Economic Squeeze: A situation where economic conditions become difficult, often involving restricted credit or profits.
  • Small businesses are feeling the squeeze from rising costs.
• Put the squeeze on (someone): To pressure someone to do something.
  • The creditors are putting the squeeze on him to repay the loan.

Variants and Related Words

• Squeeze (verb): To apply pressure; to extract liquid; to fit into a tight space.
  • Squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom of the tube.
• Squeeze (noun): An instance of squeezing; a hug; a difficult situation.
  • He gave the fruit a hard squeeze.
• Squeezable (adjective): Capable of being squeezed.
  • The stress ball is very squeezable.

Synonyms

• Compression: The action of pressing something into a smaller space.
• Constriction: The action of making something narrower or tighter.
• Crush: To press with great force, often causing deformation.
• Hug: An act of holding someone tightly in one's arms.

Related Phrasal Verbs (from the verb "squeeze")

• Squeeze in: To manage to fit someone or something into a tight schedule or small space.
  • Can you squeeze in one more meeting today?
• Squeeze out: To force someone or something out, often through competition or pressure.
  • The larger company is trying to squeeze out the smaller competitors.
• Squeeze through/by: To barely manage to pass through a narrow space.
  • We had to squeeze through the gap in the fence.

Related Idioms

• A tight squeeze: A situation where space or time is very limited.
  • It was a tight squeeze fitting five people in the small car.
• Squeeze (someone) dry: To take all of someone's money, resources, or energy.
  • The demanding job was squeezing him dry.
• Squeeze blood from a stone: To try to get something that is impossible to obtain.
  • Getting him to apologize is like trying to squeeze blood from a stone.

Noun

1. the act of gripping and pressing firmly
   • he gave her cheek a playful squeeze