- [countable, usually singular] an act of pressing something, usually with your hands
- He gave my hand a little squeeze.
- Give the tube another squeeze.
Extra Examples- He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
- He gave his mother a comforting squeeze as he left.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- affectionate
- comforting
- reassuring
- …
- give somebody
- squeeze of
- [countable] a small amount of liquid that is produced by pressing something
- a squeeze of lemon juice
- [singular] a situation where it is almost impossible for a number of people or things to fit into a small or limited space
- It was a tight squeeze but we finally got everything into the case.
- Seven people in the car was a bit of a squeeze.
- at a squeeze We can get six in the car at a squeeze.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- tight
- at a squeeze
- in a squeeze
- a bit of a squeeze
- [countable, usually singular] a reduction in the amount of money, jobs, etc. available; a difficult situation caused by this
- We're really feeling the squeeze since I lost my job.
- squeeze on something a squeeze on profits
- a credit squeeze
Extra Examples- All manufacturers are feeling the squeeze.
- Hospitals have been in a squeeze for some time.
- a squeeze on spending
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- cash
- credit
- economic
- …
- feel
- put
- squeeze on
- [singular] (especially North American English, informal) a boyfriend or girlfriend
- Who's his main squeeze?
pressing with fingers
of liquid
in small space
reduction in money
boyfriend/girlfriend
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from earlier squise, from obsolete queise, of unknown origin.
Idioms
See squeeze in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionaryput the squeeze on somebody (to do something)
- (informal) to put pressure on somebody to act in a particular way; to make a situation difficult for somebody
- You come straight to me if she tries to put the squeeze on you.
- Increased competition is really putting the squeeze on North American producers.
- The government is trying to put the squeeze on high earners.
Check pronunciation:
squeeze