2 VERB To squeak through or squeak by means to only just manage to get accepted, get included in something, or win something. □ [V prep/adv] The President's economic package squeaked through the House of Representatives by 219 votes to 213.
3 → see also bubble and squeak
squeaky /skwiː ki/ ADJ Something that is squeaky makes high-pitched sounds. □ …squeaky floorboards. □ He had a squeaky voice.
squea ky clea n also squeaky-clean ADJ If you say that someone is squeaky clean , you mean that they live a very moral life and have never done anything wrong. [INFORMAL ] □ Maybe this guy isn't so squeaky clean after all.
squeal /skwiː l/ (squeals , squealing , squealed ) VERB If someone or something squeals , they make a long, high-pitched sound. □ [V + with ] Jennifer squealed with delight and hugged me. □ [V ] The car's tires squealed again as it sped around the corner. [Also V with quote] ● N‑COUNT Squeal is also a noun. □ At that moment there was a squeal of brakes and the angry blowing of a car horn.
squeam|ish /skwiː m I ʃ/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are squeamish , you are easily upset by unpleasant sights or situations. □ I am not squeamish about blood.
squeeze ◆◇◇ /skwiː z/ (squeezes , squeezing , squeezed )
1 VERB If you squeeze something, you press it firmly, usually with your hands. □ [V n] He squeezed her arm reassuringly. □ [V n adj] Dip the bread briefly in water, then squeeze it dry. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Squeeze is also a noun. □ [+ of ] I liked her way of reassuring you with a squeeze of the hand.
2 VERB If you squeeze a liquid or a soft substance out of an object, you get the liquid or substance out by pressing the object. □ [V n prep] Joe put the plug in the sink and squeezed some detergent over the dishes. □ [V -ed] …freshly squeezed lemon juice.
3 VERB If you squeeze your eyes shut or if your eyes squeeze shut, you close them tightly, usually because you are frightened or to protect your eyes from something such as strong sunlight. □ [V n adj] Nancy squeezed her eyes shut and prayed. □ [V adj] If you keep your eyes squeezed shut, you'll miss the show.
4 VERB If you squeeze a person or thing somewhere or if they squeeze there, they manage to get through or into a small space. □ [V n prep/adv] Somehow they squeezed him into the cockpit, and strapped him in. □ [V prep/adv] Many break-ins are carried out by youngsters who can squeeze through tiny windows.
5 N‑SING If you say that getting a number of people into a small space is a squeeze , you mean that it is only just possible for them all to get into it. [INFORMAL ] □ It was a squeeze in the car with five of them.
6 VERB If you squeeze something out of someone, you persuade them to give it to you, although they may be unwilling to do this. □ [V n + from/out of ] The investigators complained about the difficulties of squeezing information out of residents.
7 VERB If a government squeezes the economy, they put strict controls on people's ability to borrow money or on their own departments' freedom to spend money, in order to control the country's rate of inflation. □ [V n] The government will squeeze the economy into a severe recession to force inflation down. ● N‑SING Squeeze is also a noun. □ The CBI also says the squeeze is slowing down inflation.
8 N‑COUNT Someone's squeeze is their boyfriend or girlfriend. [INFORMAL , JOURNALISM ] □ Jack showed off his latest squeeze at the weekend.
▸ squeeze out PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If a person or thing is squeezed out , they are no longer included in something that they were previously involved in. □ [be V -ed P ] Other directors appear happy that Lord Hollick has been squeezed out. □ [be V -ed P + of ] Arts subjects will be squeezed out of school timetables. SYNONYMS squeeze VERB 1
press: They pressed the silver knife into the cake.
squash: She made clay models and squashed them flat again.
crush: Andrew crushed his empty can.
pinch: She pinched his arm as hard as she could.
squelch /skwe ltʃ/ (squelches , squelching , squelched ) VERB To squelch means to make a wet, sucking sound, like the sound you make when you are walking on wet, muddy ground. □ [V prep/adv] He squelched across the turf.
squib /skw I b/ (squibs ) PHRASE You can describe something such as an event or a performance as a damp squib when it is expected to be interesting, exciting, or impressive, but fails to be any of these things. [BRIT ] □ The all-party meeting was a damp squib.
squid /skw I d/ (squids or squid ) N‑COUNT A squid is a sea creature with a long soft body and many soft arms called tentacles. ● N‑UNCOUNT Squid is pieces of this creature eaten as food. □ Add the prawns and squid and cook for 2 minutes.
squidgy /skw I dʒi/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is squidgy is soft and can be squashed easily. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …the squidgy end of a melon. □ …a squidgy sofa.
squig|gle /skw I g ə l/ (squiggles ) N‑COUNT A squiggle is a line that bends and curls in an irregular way.
squig|gly /skw I gəli/ ADJ Squiggly lines are lines that bend and curl in an irregular way. □ He drew three squiggly lines.