“squeezed” is a form of
squeeze
/skwiːz/ verb, noun
Forms squeezes squeezing squeezed squoze squozen
- verb (ambitransitive) To apply pressure (to something) from two or more sides at once. “I squeezed the ball between my hands.”
- verb (transitive) To embrace closely; to give a tight hug to.
- verb (ambitransitive) To fit into a tight place. “I managed to squeeze the car into that parking space.”
- verb (transitive) To remove something with difficulty, or apparent difficulty. “He squeezed some money out of his wallet.”
- verb (intransitive) To barely manage to. “I managed to squeeze through the exam with a D.”
- verb (transitive) To put in a difficult position by presenting two or more choices. “I'm being squeezed between my job and my volunteer work.”
- verb (transitive, figurative) To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass.
- verb (transitive, baseball) To attempt to score a runner from third by bunting. “Jones squeezed in Smith with a perfect bunt.”
- noun An instance of squeezing. “to give something a squeeze”
- noun A close or tight fit.
- noun (figuratively) A difficult position. “I'm in a tight squeeze right now when it comes to my free time.”
- noun A hug or other affectionate grasp. “a gentle squeeze on the arm”
- noun (slang) A romantic partner. “I want to be your main squeeze.”
- noun (slang) An illicit alcoholic drink made by squeezing Sterno through cheesecloth, etc., and mixing the result with fruit juice.
- noun (baseball) The act of bunting in an attempt to score a runner from third. “The game ended in exciting fashion with a failed squeeze.”
- noun (card games) A play that forces an opponent to discard a card that gives up one or more tricks.
Synonyms
compress condense squeezing credit crunch liquidity crisis wring power play squeeze play hug clinch squash crush squelch mash wedge force coerce hale pressure extort rack gouge thrust stuff shove pinch twinge tweet nip twitch
Etymology
From earlier squize, squise (whence also dialectal English squizzen and squeege), first attested around 1600, further origin uncertain; probably an alteration of quease (which is attested since 1550), from Middle English queisen (“to squeeze”), from Old English cwȳsan (“to crush, squeeze”), itself also of unknown origin, perhaps imitative (compare Swedish qväsa, kväsa (“to squeeze, bruise, crush; quell”), Dutch kwetsen (“to injure, hurt”), German quetschen (“to squeeze”)). Or, a blend of obsolete squiss (“to squeeze”) (whence also squash and squish) with quease. Compare also French esquicher from Old Occitan 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 in 1970s.
The nonstandard strong forms squoze and squozen, attested dialectally since at least the mid-19th century, are by analogy with freeze.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To press between two bodies; to press together closely; to compress; often, to compress so as to expel juice, moisture, etc.; as, to squeeze an orange with the fingers; to squeeze the hand in friendship.
- verb Fig.: To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass; to crush.
- verb To press; to urge one's way, or to pass, by pressing; to crowd; --often with through, into, etc.; as, to squeeze hard to get through a crowd.
- noun The act of one who squeezes; compression between bodies; pressure.
Etymology [OE. queisen, AS. cwesan, cwysan, cwisan, of uncertain origin. The s- was probably prefixed through the influence of squash, v.t.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “squeeze”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details