Squeeze

Pronunciation

• IPA: /skwiːz/Rhymes: -iːz

Origin

From earlier squize, squise (whence also English dialectal squizzen and squeege), first attested around 1600, probably an alteration of quease (which is attested since 1550), from Middle English queisen ("to squeeze"), from Old English cwēsan, cwȳsan ("to crush, squeeze"), of unknown origin, perhaps imitative (compare Swedish qväsa, kväsa ("to squeeze, bruise, crush; quell"), Dutch kwetsen ("to injure, hurt"), German quetschen ("to squeeze")). Compare also French esquicher ("") from Old Provencal esquichar ("to press, squeeze"). The slang expression "to put the squeeze on (someone or something)", meaning "to exert influence", is from 1711. The baseball term "squeeze play" is first recorded 1905. "Main squeeze" ("most important person") is attested from 1896, the specific meaning "one's sweetheart, lover" is attested by 1980.

Full definition of squeeze

Verb

1. (transitive) To apply pressure to from two or more sides at onceI squeezed the ball between my hands.Please don't squeeze the toothpaste tube in the middle.
• 1922, Virginia Woolf, Jacob's Room Chapter 1"Over there—by the rock," Steele muttered, with his brush between his teeth, squeezing out raw sienna, and keeping his eyes fixed on Betty Flanders's back.
2. (ambitransitive) To fit into a tight placeI managed to squeeze the car into that parking space.Can you squeeze through that gap?
• 2010, December 29, Sam Sheringham, Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton, It was an omen of things to come as in the 56th minute the visitors took the lead after a mix-up between Skrtel and Sotirios Kyrgiakos allowed Ebanks-Blake's through-ball to squeeze between them.
• 1908, Kenneth Grahame, Could he not squeeze under the seat of a carriage? He had seen this method adopted by schoolboys, when the journey- money provided by thoughtful parents had been diverted to other and better ends.
3. (transitive) To remove something with difficulty, or apparent difficultyHe squeezed some money out of his wallet.
4. (transitive) To put in a difficult position by presenting two or more choicesI'm being squeezed between my job and my volunteer work.
• 2013 May 23, Sarah Lyall, "British Leader’s Liberal Turn Sets Off a Rebellion in His Party," New York Times (retrieved 29 May 2013)At a time when Mr. Cameron is being squeezed from both sides — from the right by members of his own party and by the anti-immigrant, anti-Europe U.K. Independence Party, and from the left by his Liberal Democrat coalition partners — the move seemed uncharacteristically clunky.
5. (transitive, figurative) To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass.
• L'EstrangeIn a civil war, people must expect to be crushed and squeezed toward the burden.
6. (transitive, baseball) To attempt to score a runner from third by buntingJones squeezed in Smith with a perfect bunt.

Derived terms

Noun

1. A difficult positionI'm in a tight squeeze right now when it comes to my free time.
2. A traversal of a narrow passageIt was a tight squeeze, but I got through to the next section of the cave.
3. A hug or other affectionate graspa gentle squeeze on the arm
4. (slang) A romantic partnerI want to be your main squeeze
5. (baseball) The act of bunting in an attempt to score a runner from thirdThe game ended in exciting fashion with a failed squeeze.
6. (epigraphy) An impression of an inscription formed by pressing wet paper onto the surface and peeling off when dry.The light not being good enough for photography, I took a squeeze of the stone.
7. (card games) A play that forces an opponent to discard a card that gives up one or more tricks.
8. (archaic) A bribe or fee paid to a middleman, especially in China.