squeeze

To press something firmly from different sides, often with your hand.

• Squeeze the lemon over the fish.
• She squeezed my hand gently.
• He squeezed the wet sponge until no water remained.

How to use it: squeeze something out of something (Squeeze the water out of the sponge.)

Similar words: press, compress

Common phrases: squeeze something, squeeze someone’s hand, squeeze a lemon

To move yourself or put something into a space that is almost too small.

• We squeezed into the taxi.
• Can you squeeze another bag into the car?
• He squeezed past the crowd near the door.

How to use it: squeeze into something (We squeezed into the small lift.); squeeze something into something (She squeezed another chair into the room.); squeeze through something (The cat squeezed through the gap.)

Similar words: fit, wedge

Common phrases: squeeze into something, squeeze through something, squeeze past someone

To get something out with difficulty, as if there is little left or little space.

• He squeezed a coin out of his wallet.
• She squeezed the last note out of her crowded purse.
• I managed to squeeze a few remaining coins out.

How to use it: squeeze something out of something (He squeezed a few coins out of his pocket.)

Similar words: extract, pull out

Common phrases: squeeze something out, squeeze out something

A firm press from different sides, often using a hand.

• Give the lemon a squeeze.
• She gave my arm a gentle squeeze.
• A quick squeeze released the last drops of juice.

Similar words: press

Common phrases: give a squeeze, gentle squeeze, squeeze of lemon

A difficult situation in which you have too little time, money, or space.

• We are in a tight squeeze.
• The extra bills put us in a financial squeeze.
• With two deadlines tomorrow, she was in a squeeze.

How to use it: be in a squeeze (We are in a squeeze until payday.)

Similar words: fix, bind, predicament

Common phrases: in a squeeze, tight squeeze