squeeze
/skwi:z/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- The act of pressing something firmly: The action of applying pressure, typically with your fingers or hand.
- A tight or affectionate hug: A close, often loving, embrace.
- A difficult situation caused by scarcity or restriction: A situation where there is pressure due to limited space, money, or resources.
- (Informal) A romantic partner: A person's girlfriend or boyfriend.
Verb:
- To press something firmly, especially from opposite sides: To apply pressure to something, often to change its shape or extract liquid.
- To fit into a tight space by applying pressure: To force yourself or something into a small or crowded space.
- To obtain something with difficulty or pressure: To get something, such as money or information, by applying pressure or coercion.
- To hug someone tightly: To hold someone close in your arms.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- He gave the orange a hard squeeze to get the juice out.
- She gave her son a loving squeeze before he left for school.
- The company is feeling a financial squeeze this quarter.
- (Slang) He went to the party with his main squeeze.
Verb:
- Please squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom of the tube.
- She managed to squeeze her suitcase into the overhead compartment.
- The mobsters tried to squeeze money from the shopkeeper.
- He squeezed her hand to reassure her.
Advanced Usage
"to squeeze in": To manage to find time for someone or something despite a busy schedule.
- My schedule is packed, but I can squeeze in a quick meeting at 3 PM.
"to squeeze out": To force someone or something out, often through competition or pressure.
- The larger company is trying to squeeze out the smaller competitors.
"to put the squeeze on (someone)": To put pressure on someone to do something.
- The creditors are putting the squeeze on the business to repay its loans.
Variants and Related Words
Squeezer (n): A tool or device used for squeezing, especially for extracting juice.
- She used a lemon squeezer to make fresh lemonade.
Squeezy (adj, informal): Easy to squeeze; soft and pliable.
- The baby loves the squeezy bath toy.
Synonyms
- Compress (v): To press something into a smaller space.
- Hug (v/n): To hold someone closely in one's arms.
- Pinch (v): To grip something, typically someone's flesh, tightly between finger and thumb.
- Crush (v): To deform, pulverize, or force in by compressing forcefully.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Squeeze by/past: To manage to get past something with difficulty in a tight space.
- I had to turn sideways to squeeze past the large furniture in the hallway.
Squeeze through: To barely succeed in passing a test, examination, or difficult situation.
- He didn't study much but somehow squeezed through the final exam.
Related Idioms
A tight squeeze: A situation where space is very limited or a situation is difficult.
- Parking the large truck in that small spot was a tight squeeze.
Squeeze blood from a stone: To try to get something (especially money) from someone who has none to give; an impossible task.
- Getting him to donate is like trying to squeeze blood from a stone.
Noun
- the act of forcing yourself (or being forced) into or through a restricted space
- getting through that small opening was a tight squeeze
- a tight or amorous embrace
- come here and give me a big hug
- an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power
- she laughed at this sexual power play and walked away
- a twisting squeeze
- gave the wet cloth a wring
- (slang) a person's girlfriend or boyfriend
- she was his main squeeze
- a situation in which increased costs cannot be passed on to the customer
- increased expenses put a squeeze on profits
- a state in which there is a short supply of cash to lend to businesses and consumers and interest rates are high
- the act of gripping and pressing firmly
- he gave her cheek a playful squeeze
Verb
- squeeze or press together
- she compressed her lips
- the spasm contracted the muscle
- squeeze (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
- Hug me, please
- They embraced
- He hugged her close to him
- squeeze tightly between the fingers
- He pinched her behind
- She squeezed the bottle
- press or force
- Stuff money into an envelope
- She thrust the letter into his hand
- obtain by coercion or intimidation
- They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss
- They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him
- to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means :"She forced him to take a job in the city"
- He squeezed her for information
- squeeze like a wedge into a tight space
- I squeezed myself into the corner
- press firmly
- He squeezed my hand
- to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition
- crush an aluminum can
- squeeze a lemon