squeezed
squeezed — verb
- squeezedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- squeezeds3rd person singular
- squeezeding-ing form
- squeezededpast simple
1. to hold something tightly with your hand or push hard on its sides, often to mak
to hold something tightly with your hand or push hard on its sides, often to make it smaller or to get liquid out of it
Hoa squeezed half a lemon over the warm fish before serving it.
squeeze + object to get liquid out
The nurse gently squeezed the boy's hand to help him stay calm.
squeeze + body-part object
Ramón squeezed the toothpaste tube until the last bit came out.
Don't squeeze the ripe peaches, or you will bruise them.
Mira squeezed the wet towel hard over the sink to remove the water.
- release
to stop holding tightly
文法句型
squeeze + object
squeeze + object + out
用法筆記
Object is usually something soft or holdable (a hand, a tube, a piece of fruit). Often followed by 'out' when the goal is removing liquid.
常見錯誤
2. to hold someone close in your arms for a short moment to show love or to comfort
to hold someone close in your arms for a short moment to show love or to comfort them
Grandma squeezed Léa tightly the moment she walked through the door.
squeeze + person for affection
Ziad squeezed his little sister and told her everything would be fine.
The two old friends squeezed each other at the airport after ten years apart.
Femi squeezed his son before he climbed onto the school bus.
文法句型
squeeze + person
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: here the object is a person and the act is affectionate, not about changing the object's shape.
3. to move yourself or push something into a space that is almost too small, with e
to move yourself or push something into a space that is almost too small, with effort
Six of us squeezed into the tiny car for the ride to the beach.
squeeze + into a small space
The cat squeezed through the narrow gap under the wooden fence.
squeeze + through a gap
Megan squeezed her bag into the full overhead locker on the plane.
Late passengers squeezed onto the crowded morning train one by one.
Christopher tried to squeeze his feet into shoes that were a size too small.
文法句型
squeeze + into/through/under
squeeze + object + into
用法筆記
Almost always paired with a preposition (into, through, under, onto). The space is understood to be tight, so the effort is part of the meaning.
4. to put pressure on a person or business so that they have too little money to li
to put pressure on a person or business so that they have too little money to live or operate comfortably
Rising rents have squeezed many small shops out of the old market street.
subject is a cost or demand
Young families are being squeezed by higher food prices and rising bills.
passive: be squeezed by [financial cause]
The new tax squeezed the farmers, leaving them little to save each year.
Hospitals were badly squeezed when the government cut their yearly budget.
文法句型
be squeezed by + cause
用法筆記
Frequently passive, with the financial cause introduced by 'by' (squeezed by costs, rents, taxes). Subject of the active form is usually a cost or economic demand, not a person.
5. to get money, information, or agreement from someone by using threats or strong
to get money, information, or agreement from someone by using threats or strong pressure they cannot refuse
The gang squeezed protection money out of every shop on the block.
squeeze + money + out of someone
Reporters tried to squeeze the truth out of the nervous witness.
squeeze + information + out of someone
Sivan squeezed a promise from her brother before lending him the car.
The landlord squeezed an extra month's rent out of the worried tenants.
文法句型
squeeze + something + out of/from someone
用法筆記
Object must be something the other person is unwilling to give (money, a confession, a promise), usually followed by 'out of' or 'from' plus the person.
squeezed — noun
1. an act of pressing or gripping something firmly with your hand
an act of pressing or gripping something firmly with your hand
Mathieu added a squeeze of lime to the bowl of hot noodles.
a squeeze of + noun
Gita gave the puppy a gentle squeeze and set it back down.
give + object + a squeeze
A quick squeeze of the brakes slowed the bicycle on the steep hill.
The doctor felt a sharp squeeze in his chest and sat down at once.
文法句型
a squeeze of + noun
give + object + a squeeze
用法筆記
Often appears as 'a squeeze of [liquid/fruit]' for cooking, or 'give something a squeeze' for a quick grip.
2. a period when money is hard to get or spending must be cut, often because of dif
a period when money is hard to get or spending must be cut, often because of difficult economic times
The credit squeeze made it harder for young couples to borrow for a home.
the credit squeeze (economic)
Rising prices put a real squeeze on family budgets last winter.
a squeeze on + noun
During the squeeze, the company froze all pay and stopped hiring.
Small farms felt the squeeze when feed costs doubled within a year.
文法句型
a squeeze on + noun
the credit/cash squeeze
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this is abstract and economic. Common fixed forms are 'credit squeeze', 'cash squeeze', and 'feel the squeeze'.
3. a situation where people or things only just fit because the available room is s
a situation where people or things only just fit because the available room is so tight
Getting all the guests into the little kitchen was a tight squeeze.
a tight squeeze (barely fitting)
With five suitcases, the back seat was a real squeeze for the children.
It was a close squeeze, but the truck just fit under the low bridge.
Fitting a bed and a desk in the small room is always a squeeze.
文法句型
a tight/close squeeze
be a squeeze
用法筆記
Usually preceded by 'tight', 'close', or 'real', and used after 'be' to comment that a space is only just big enough.
4. the person someone is dating; their boyfriend or girlfriend
the person someone is dating; their boyfriend or girlfriend
Nicholas brought his new squeeze to the family dinner on Sunday.
informal slang for a partner
Abigail introduced her main squeeze to her old college roommates.
someone's main squeeze
Everyone at the office wondered who Quinn's mysterious new squeeze was.
Rin wanted her best friend to meet her squeeze before the wedding.
- partner
neutral and acceptable in all contexts
- sweetheart
affectionate and slightly old-fashioned
文法句型
someone's main squeeze
用法筆記
Informal American slang, often as 'main squeeze' to mean a steady partner. Avoid in formal or written contexts.