| 释义 |
▪ I. squeeze, n.|skwiːz|
[f. squeeze v.]
1. a. An act of squeezing; an application of strong or heavy pressure, or of force sufficient to compress.
1611Cotgr., Escachure,..a squash, crush, knock, or squeeze, (wherby a thing is flatted, or beaten close together). 1708J. Philips Cyder ii. 75 Let the tuneful Squeeze Of labouring Elbow rouze them [sc. ‘imprison'd winds’ of the bagpipes], out they fly Melodious. 1806A. Hunter Culina (ed. 3) 63 When sufficiently stewed, give it a gentle squeeze. 1835Sir J. Ross Narr. 2nd Voy. viii. 121 In attempting to pass between two large pieces of ice, they suddenly closed, so as to give us a considerable squeeze, but without any injury. 1843Holtzapffel Turning I. 134 The final squeeze is given by the entire force of three men. 1869Rankine Machine & Hand-tools Pl. P 20, The punch;.. as it retires, after having given its squeeze, the point is lubricated.
b. In fig. use. Colloq. phr. (orig. U.S.) to put the squeeze on (someone): to exert influence on (someone) to act in a particular way, to ‘pressurize’ someone. Also without indirect obj.
1711Swift Lett. (1767) III. 227 A rogue that writes a newspaper..has reflected on me in one of his papers; but the secretary has taken him up, and he shall have a squeeze extraordinary. 1777J. Wedgwood Let. 13 Apr. (1965) 204 Mrs. Du Burk's assurance in asking us to pay her debts is very great... It is another squeeze, and I would not pay a stiver. 1835T. Mitchell Acharn. of Aristoph. Introd. p. viii, A squeeze and a gripe too often advertised the towns beneath, that..Athens had as much need of external as of native resources. 1850Longfellow Life (1891) II. 182 It begins again, the old pressure and squeeze of books and old routine. 1887Spectator 21 May 675/2 A gentle squeeze to the Sultan might effect some improvement. 1941E. B. White Let. 24 June (1967) 210, I am writing you direct to put the old personal squeeze on you. 1942R. Chandler High Window (1943) xxxiii. 220 She hired me to..put the squeeze on Linda for a divorce. 1949Ann. Reg. 1948 6 The tension was not relaxed, for there now began the Russian ‘squeeze’ in Berlin. 1954‘J. Christopher’ 22nd Century 21 They're putting the squeeze on. But there's got to be an excuse before they can swallow us. 1969A. G. Frank Latin Amer. xxv. 394 The imperialist squeeze obliges them to react by squeezing their workers. 1978S. Brill Teamsters vi. 217 Spilotro's army of enforcers..put the squeeze on hard-pressed loan⁓shark victims.
c. The pressure of a crowd of persons; a crush.
1802Beddoes Hygëia v. 55 Tea and coffee..are frequently taken in the very stew and squeeze of a fashionable mob. 1805Baroness Bunsen in Hare Life I. iii. 72, I never could have imagined what a real squeeze was until I found myself in the passage. 1854Poultry Chron. I. 141, I shall never again believe what ladies say against a mob, after witnessing how many high-born, gentle, and feeble old ladies endured the squeeze at Birmingham.
d. colloq. A strong financial or commercial demand or pressure, esp. a restriction in the supply of money, credit, goods, etc.; spec. in Stock Market usage, pressure applied to dealers in shorts to cause them to settle at a loss. Cf. credit squeeze s.v. credit n. 14.
1872Chicago Tribune 23 Oct. 1/5 The Gold Room was treated to a slight sensation to-day in the shape of a ‘squeeze’ in cash gold, which was made as high as 3/8 per cent per diem for borrowing. 1890Daily News 26 June 2/2 The middlemen who happened to have provided themselves with money in view of a ‘squeeze’. 1894Times 7 Mar. 5/4 The business of the New York Stock Market was marked to-day by a ‘squeeze’ in Sugar Trust certificates. 1924G. G. Munn Encycl. Banking & Finance 523/1 A money squeeze refers to a temporary shortage in the supply of loanable funds accompanied by difficulty in borrowing and marking up of interest rates. 1927W. H. Hubbard Cotton & Cotton Market (ed. 2) 396 While we have never had a corner since 1910, we have had in recent years a succession of annoying premiums on the near deliveries. The trade calls these minor corners a ‘squeeze’. 1937Sun (Baltimore) 25 Sept. 15/8 ‘Longs’ are traders who in recent months have been accumulating contracts specifying delivery of corn to them in September. ‘Shorts’ are those who have sold these contracts, many of them reportedly without having possession of the corn to deliver. The attempt to make these ‘shorts’ pay a comparatively high price either to buy back their contracts or to buy the corn to deliver on them is known as a ‘squeeze’ in market parlance. 1943[see roll back, roll-back, rollback 2]. 1958J. K. Galbraith Affluent Society xvi. 184 A severe squeeze will ordinarily be placed on the capital requirements of smaller-scale firms. 1979B. Hines Price of Coal i. 48 I'm talking about spending thousands of pounds of public money... I thought there was a squeeze on?
e. Bridge. A tactic used to force an opponent to discard or unguard a potentially winning card.
1926Work-Whitehead Auction Bridge Bull. Jan. 117/1 The Squeeze is unquestionably the least understood of the several more or less rare plays arising from time to time in the proper play of Auction hands. 1933Sunday Times 5 Feb. 5/1 The coup formerly only known as the ‘Vienna Coup’, but now, more appropriately, also termed the ‘Squeeze’. 1959Listener 5 Nov. 802/3 He played for a squeeze. 1976National Observer (U.S.) 20 Nov. 21-a/2 Another ‘cooked’ story is behind this week's hand. It involved a refusal to finesse and ended with a very fancy squeeze.
2. a. A strong or firm pressure of the hand as a token of friendship or affection.
In quot. 1736 with allusion to the surreptitious passing of money in order to bribe.
1736Fielding Pasquin i. i, I never had a civiller squeeze by the hand in my life... Ay, you have squeezed that out pretty well. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 133 Harry seized him by the hand, and gave him..the squeeze and the look of love. 1819Byron Juan i. cxi, Yet, there's no doubt she only meant to clasp His fingers with a pure Platonic squeeze. 1841Thackeray Gt. Hoggarty Diam. iii, Lady Fanny..held me out her little hand, and gave mine such a squeeze. 1888Burgon Twelve Good Men II. 265 Giving him an honest, hearty squeeze of the hand.
b. A close embrace; a hug.
1790Wolcot (P. Pindar) Epist. J. Bruce Wks. 1812 II. 354 What bade the charming Lady Mary fly Marchesi's squeeze, for Pacchierotti's sigh? 1818Keats Endym. iii. 574 My tenderest squeeze is but a giant's clutch. 1848Dickens Dombey xlvi, Drying the tears upon her shrivelled face, and giving him a tender squeeze. 1899Doyle Duet 207 She threw her arms round his neck and gave him a hearty squeeze.
3. a. A (small) quantity or amount squeezed out; a few drops pressed out by squeezing.
1761Ann. Reg., Characters 4/2 A little pimento, and the squeeze of an orange their only sauce. 1849Macaulay in Trevelyan xii. (1913) II. 233 They are more than sufficiently eulogistic. In both there are squeezes of acid. 1864Reader 12 Mar. 324/3 It is much relished with a squeeze of lemon⁓juice. 1907Westm. Gaz. 12 Apr. 4/2 For the nearer colouring he would still serve himself out a liberal squeeze of burnt-sienna.
b. techn. in Screw-cutting (see quot.).
1846Holtzapffel Turning II. 587 It appears..to be quite impolitic, entirely to expunge the surface-bearing, or squeeze, from the taps and dies, when these are applied to the ductile metals.
c. A forced exaction or impost made by Asiatic officials or servants; a percentage taken upon goods bought or sold; an illegal charge or levy.
1858Merc. Mar. Mag. V. 42 The Transit Levies, or Mandarin ‘Squeeze’. Ibid. 44 We should get our teas at a duty of..one thirty-fifth part of the present ‘squeeze’. 1880I. L. Bird Japan I. 51 The practice common among native servants of getting a ‘squeeze’ out of every money transaction. c1890[A. Murdoch] Yoshiwara Episode 10 In his foolishness he was dreaming of ‘squeezes’, of looting temples, of marrying Japanese Princesses.
4. colloq. A crowded assembly or social gathering.
1779Mrs. Barbauld Wks. (1825) II. 22 There is a squeeze, a fuss, a drum, a rout, and lastly a hurricane, when the whole house is full from top to bottom. 1793[Earl Dundonald] Descr. Estate of Culross 53 Scots Coal and Wax Tapers forming two of the indispensably necessary attendants of Drums, Routs, and Squeezes. 1808Lady S. Lyttelton Corr. (1912) i. 13 The weather is getting terribly hot for squeezes. 1818Lady Morgan Autob. (1859) 191 Morgan swears I'll suffocate them all, as the French are wholly unused to a squeeze. 1893F. F. Moore I Forbid Banns (1899) 149 He said he'd be hanged if he'd go to Madame Darius' squeeze—meaning this joyous entertainment.
5. Coal-mining.
a. A gradual coming together of the floor and roof of a gallery or working; a place where this has occurred; a creep or nip.
1789J. Williams Min. Kingd. I. 348 They are always sure that the vein will open again,..when they have cut through that squeeze or twitch. 1881Raymond Mining Gloss., Squeeze, the settling, without breaking, of the roof over a considerable area of workings. 1898Daily News 5 July 2/5 Squeezes and falls are taking place in the levels and headings throughout the coalfield.
b. (See quot.)
1882Standard 19 Aug. 3/5 There is no room for doubt that the explosion..was caused by the diffusion of a sudden ‘squeeze’ or outburst of gas.
6. slang or Cant.
a. The neck.
1812in J. H. Vaux Flash Dict. 1821Sporting Mag. IX. 27 A prime yellow-man round his squeeze. 1828Egan Boxiana IV. 158 Abbot appeared on the ground, with a blue bird's-eye round his squeeze. c1866in Farmer & Henley s.v. Squeezer.
b. Silk; an article made of this, a silk tie. Also attrib.
1839‘Ducange Anglicus’ 34 Squeeze, silk. 1877Five Years' Penal Servitude 240 He'd tog himself up in black, with a white ‘squeeze’, on a Sunday. 1877in Farmer & Henley s.v., We got some squeeze dresses, and two sealskin jackets. 1888Times 1 Dec. 4/4 He there saw Fife, who said, ‘Did you hear about the load of ‘squeeze’ (meaning silk) that was lost?’
c. A plan, work; see quot. 1865.
A few other slang uses are given by Farmer & Henley.
c1863T. Taylor Ticket-of-Leave Man iii. 59, I owe him one for spoiling my squeeze. 1865Slang Dict. 241 ‘Precious rum squeeze at the spell,’ i.e. a good evening's work at the theatre.
7. a. A moulding or cast of an object obtained by pressing some plastic substance round or over it; spec. in Archæol., an impression or copy of an inscription, design, etc., taken by applying wet paper or other soft material in this way.
1857Birch Anc. Pottery (1858) II. 277 Lamps were manufactured by means of moulds, which were modelled from a pattern lamp, in a harder and finer clay than the squeeze or pattern. 1870Geo. Eliot in Cross Life III. 112, I saw squeezes of this [Moabite] stone for the first time. 1884W. Wright Hittites iv. 45 Professor Sayce visited these sculptures. He made careful squeezes and copies of the inscription. 1890W. J. Gordon Foundry 213 The wood..is used merely as a source of electrotypes. A squeeze in wax or some such substance is taken from it.
fig.1894Times 14 Mar. 7/3 Now we know that the policy of Lord Rosebery is the ‘squeeze’ of the policy of Mr. Gladstone.
b. slang. An impression of an object made for criminal purposes.
1882Sydney Slang Dict. 8/2 Squeeze, an impression of a keyhole in wax. 1930G. D. H. & M. Cole Burglars in Bucks. iii. xxxiv. 135 Where did the dummy keys..come from?.. If they were forgeries it would be simpler, for Sir Hiram might remember if anyone had handled his keys long enough to take a squeeze. 1941Baker Dict. Austral. Slang 71 Squeeze, an impression of a keyhole in wax.
8. Without article: The action of squeezing or the fact of being squeezed; pressure; constraint used to obtain a concession, gift, etc.
1862Thackeray Philip xxvi, After four-and-twenty hours of squeeze in the diligence. 1898Westm. Rev. May 479 It is on the knowledge of this fact that the policy of squeeze is based.
9. colloq.
a. An escape, a ‘squeak’.
1848J. F. Cooper Oak Openings II. v. 78 In one instance, however, a young Indian had a still narrower ‘squeeze’ for his life. 1875Wood & Lapham Waiting for M. 24 Jack had had..a still more narrow squeeze, for, had he been one minute sooner at the windlass, nothing could have saved him.
b. at or upon a squeeze, at a pinch.
1892W. S. Gilbert Mountebanks i, I assist As soloist, Upon a squeeze. 1897Windsor Mag. Jan. 277/2 The..garden..contains only one..tennis-court, but at a squeeze could almost take in two.
c. A difficult situation.
1905Dialect Notes III. 22 Tight squeeze,..a difficulty. 1972National Observer (U.S.) 27 May 1/1 The safest drivers are those who know what their cars can do and how to make them do it in a squeeze.
10. Baseball. The use of squeeze play (squeeze play 1 a); a bunt made to try to bring home a runner from third base.
1908Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide 279 Under Ned Hanlon the Cincinnati team worked the ‘squeeze’ nearly as well as the New York Americans. 1942L. Fonseca How to pitch Baseball iii. i. 93 Another play for which the pitcher—and catcher, too—must always be on guard is the squeeze, one of baseball's most spectacular plays. 1976Billings (Montana) Gaz. 30 June 2-e/6 In the eighth inning, the Royals tried to salvage the game with a squeeze with the bases loaded.
11. a. attrib. and Comb. in sense 7, as squeeze impression, squeeze-taker; in sense 3 c, as squeeze system; squeeze bunt Baseball, the bunt (bunt n.8 2) made in squeeze play (squeeze play 1 a); also as v. intr.; squeeze clout Cant (see quot.); squeeze-pidgin slang, a bribe; squeeze room, a room in which ‘squeezes’ or assemblies are held.
1795Potter Dict. Cant (ed. 2), Squeeze clout, a neck⁓cloth. 1850Mrs. Trollope Petticoat Gov. 157 She ventured to whisper as they stood together in the squeeze room. 1871Q. Statem. Amer. Palest. Explor. Soc., We did not succeed in getting squeeze impressions. 1883Quiver Dec. 89/1 Tourists' fingers, squeeze-takers, and the whole body of destroyers have done their work. 1898Morning Post 9 Nov. 5/5 The official class, which religiously adheres to the time-honoured ‘squeeze’ system. 1946J. Irving Royal Navalese 165 Squeeze-pidgin, a tip: a bribe. 1952B. Feller Pitching to Win viii. 108 During the 1951 season, we had a number of squeeze bunts, those which score a runner from third base, beat us in several important ball games. 1955P. Richards Mod. Baseball Strategy xi. 130 Many managers make a big mistake asking pitchers to squeeze-bunt. 1970‘B. Mather’ Break in Line i. 11 ‘What's a squeeze-pidgin?’..‘A bribe... Something you squeeze out of somebody.’ 1974Cleveland (Ohio) Plain Dealer 13 Oct. c. 1/2 The big run for the defending world champions came on a two-strike, suicide squeeze bunt by Bert Campaneris in the fifth inning.
b. attrib. uses in Bridge (sense 1 e above).
1936E. H. Downes Squeezes, Coups & End Plays 10 The Squeeze trick must always be won in the hand opposite the final entry card. 1947J. Brown Winning Tricks xxi. 233 A long suit is not necessarily for a squeeze, although long suits have come to be associated with squeeze positions. 1954G. S. Coffin Bridge Play from A to Z 328 Many types of preparatory squeezes occur..such as the squeeze long-suit..; the squeeze finesse, the squeeze strip, etc. 1964Frey & Truscott Official Encycl. Bridge 526/1 The squeeze finesse is characterized by the presence of a symmetric menace which must be guarded with an equal number of cards by both opponents. 1974Times 5 Jan. 8/7 The counter-attack by the declarer to keep one move ahead of the squeeze-breaking defence.
Add:[2.] c. A close friend, esp. a girlfriend or lover; a sweetheart. Cf. main squeeze s.v. main a. 11. slang (chiefly N. Amer.).
1980E. A. Folb Runnin' down some Lines 255 Squeeze, close friend; favorite male or female lover or companion. 1985Age (Victoria) 19 Sept. 2/3 The ‘Vice’ squad speaks in a verbose and near unintelligible jargon: ‘the boss's new squeeze’ [etc.]. 1986R. Ford Sportswriter ix. 241, I would love to grill him about his little seminary squeeze, but he would be indignant.
▪ II. squeeze, v.|skwiːz|
Also 7 squeez, squeaze, squease, squese, 7–8 squeese. Also with dial. preterite and pa. pple. 9– squoze, pa. pple. 9 squozen.
[perh. a strengthened form of quease v.1 Cf. also squize v.]
1. a. trans. To press or compress hard, esp. so as to flatten, crush, or force together.
a1601Pasquil & Kath. (1878) i. 117, I long not to be squeas'd with mine owne waight. 1634Brereton Trav. (Chetham Soc.) 26 The devil..squeezed and bruised his body so as his death was thereby occasioned. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 208 He therefore first among the Swains was found, To..squeese the Combs with Golden Liquor crown'd. 1727Philip Quarll (1816) 81 He opened his windpipe by squeezing it the contrary way. c1750Coventry Hist. Pompey xv, A servant..heard him raving at the landlord because the bur was gone, and there was no lemon ready to squeeze over it. 1823J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 30 By your seizing a handful briskly, and squeezing it half a minute, it preserves the form of the cavity of the hand. 1892Photogr. Ann. II. 397 Upon squeezing the ball the charge is blown very exactly through the flame. 1931Sun (Baltimore) 1 Sept. 8/7 ‘Orange?’ repeated Waitress No. 1. ‘Do you want it squoze?’ 1933M. Lowry Ultramarine vi. 237 He just sort of squoze the rabbit.
fig.1648J. Beaumont Psyche xi. cxxviii, A Stone more ponderous he found Squeazing his Soul with full Damnation's Weight. 1681J. Flavel Method of Grace v. 102 An unprincipled professor must be squeezed by some weight of affliction, ere he will yield one tear. 1823W. Cobbett Rural Rides (1885) I. 320 The six hundred millions of Debt..are now squeezing the borough-mongers. 1845Disraeli Sybil (1863) 312 You know something about somebody; I couldn't squeeze you then, but..I will have it out of you now.
†b. to squeeze wax, to impress wax with a seal; to set one's seal to a document. Obs.
1658–9in Burton's Diary (1828) III. 133 The people are not like a young heir that hath squeezed wax, by which being once bound, it is too late after for him to repent. 1677Wycherley Pl. Dealer iv. i, Wid. When thou'rt of Age, thou wilt sign, seal and deliver too, wilt thou? Jer. Yes marry will I... Wid. O do not squeeze Wax, Son.
c. With complement: To reduce to, or bring into, a specified condition by pressure. to squeeze out (or † squeeze forth), to drain or exhaust in this way.
1660H. More Myst. Godl. iii. xiii. 85 The more Zealous of the people lye in the way to be squeezed to death by the wheels. 1683Salmon Doron Med. i. 140 The fresh leaves of Asarabacca; bruise them,..squeez them forth strongly, and take it with care. 1697W. Dampier Voy. I. 79 We caught several great Sharks;..and eat them all, boyling and squeezing them dry. 1825Hazlitt Spirit of Age 142 He has ransacked old chronicles,..he has squeezed out musty records. 1848Bailey Festus (ed. 3) 180 They have squeezed me black and blue. 1859Dickens T. Two Cities i. v, Even with handkerchiefs..which were squeezed dry into infants' mouths. 1871G. W. Curtis Potiphar P. i, To be squeezed flat against a wall.
fig.1871M. Collins Marq. & Merch. II. x. 293 When the [morning] paper was squeezed dry, the old lady usually settled down to take a nap. 1886World 17 Nov. 14 The writer..says that Archer, by a fine bit of riding, squeezed Childeric home by a neck.
d. With advs., as down, together, up.
1716Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to C'tess Mar 14 Sept., In order to that ceremony, I was squeezed up in a gown. 1833Lardner Manuf. Metal II. 241 Placing them..between polished pasteboards, and then squeezing them down very closely. 1852Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. i. 5 She squeezed up her child in her arms. 1884Bower & Scott De Bary's Phaner. 573 They press against the bast-plate, and squeeze it together, displacing and destroying its elements.
e. To press (the hand) in token of friendship or affection.
1687Miége Gt. Fr. Dict. ii. s.v., I squeezed her hand. 1751Johnson Rambler No. 191 ⁋6 Him that had once squeezed her hand. 1823Scott Quentin D. xiv, The poor youth whose hand he squeezed affectionately. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xliv, Becky seized Pitt's hand... ‘Thank you,’ she said, squeezing it. 1878Roger Plowman's Excursion to London ii. 21, I gently squoze hur 'and.
f. To fire off (a round, shot, etc.) from a gun. colloq.
1956Amer. Speech XXXI. 192 A rifleman never fires a shot, he squeezes off a round. 1975A. Price Our Man in Camelot vii. 136 He..got his gun clear just as Harry squeezed off his first shot.
g. To approach or ‘push’ (a certain age). colloq.
1976National Observer (U.S.) 20 Nov. 24/1 But that takes a lot out of a man, particularly when he's squeezing 70. So sometimes he's pretty tired. 1978Guardian Weekly 30 July 21/1 The original heroine, now squeezing forty.
2. a. To force by pressure. With advs. and preps., as in, into, out (of), through, etc.
1683K. Digby Chym. Secr. 67 Mix these two Mercuries together and squeeze them through a leather. 1716Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to Lady X― 1 Oct., A man, a little more slender than ordinary, might squeeze in his whole person. 1779Mirror No. 12, Their bosoms..were squeezed up to their throats. 1829Chapters Phys. Sci. 4 Squeezing the air into a small space in the upper part of the goblet. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. ix. 62 The half-formed ice is squeezed through a precipitous gorge. 1866J. T. Staton Rays fro' Loominany 107 Awd welly as lief they'd squozzen my guts eawt as speighlt my bonnet. 1892Zangwill Bow Myst. 110 Crowl was squeezed into a corner behind a pillar.
refl.1847Tennyson Princ. Prol. 112 He had climb'd across the spikes, And he had squeezed himself betwixt the bars. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xix. 134 We had to squeeze ourselves through narrow fissures. 1883Cent. Mag. Aug. 492 The frightened birds..crouch..so as to squeeze themselves into the smallest compass.
b. In more or less fig. use.
1658–9in Burton's Diary (1828) IV. 225 Amidst that debate of Scotland was squeezed out a question about their withdrawing. 1694in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 230 We shall be able to squeeze it into one [volume]. 1777F. Burney Early Diary (1889) II. 210 She immediately complied, and I squeezed in my laughter with great decency. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) II. 239 This is not so strong as the case of tacking a third incumbrance to a first, in order to squeeze out a second. 1861Gen. P. Thompson Audi Alt. Part. III. clxxvi. 211 It will very likely happen, that those who afterwards join, will squeeze him out of partnership. 1892Photogr. Ann. II. 453 In last year's Annual I was just able to squeeze in a notice of this cheap and convenient erection. 1938J. Agate Diary 17 Dec. in Selective Ego (1976) 115 Before going down to correct my proofs at the S.T. squeezed in a performance of the Messiah. Or, rather, Beecham squoze it in for me.
c. To force or push (one's way).
1864Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xvi. xiii. (1872) VI. 298 His poor Wife had twice squeezed her way into the Royal Levee at Kensington. 1912D. Crawford Thinking Black ii. 18 The terror o' mornings is to squeeze your way through this wet, matted tangle.
3. a. To press upon (a person, etc.) so as to exact or extort money; to fleece. Also const. of.
Cf. the fig. use illustrated s.v. sponge n.1 9 c.
1639Fuller Holy War iii. vi. (1840) 124 He made a new seal, wherewith he squeezed his subjects, and left a deep impression in their purses. 1674Milton Hist. Mosc. i. Wks. 1851 VIII. 478 Being well enricht, he is sent at his own Charge to the Wars, and there squeez'd of his ill got wealth. 1700J. Tyrrell Hist. Eng. II. 904 The Church had been so often squeezed by him. 1741Middleton Cicero (1742) II. vii. 184 This King Ariobarzanes..had been miserably squeezed and drained by the Roman Generals and Governers. 1879Froude Cæsar ix. 99 Squeezing the people..of all the wealth that could be drained out of them. 1894Baring-Gould Deserts S. France II. 193 The old corsair so squeezed these towns as to completely exhaust them.
†b. To subject to severe treatment. Obs.—1
1691Sir R. Cox in Sydney Papers (1746) I. 168, I squeezd them hard, having killd and hangd not less than 3000 of them.
c. slang. To bring into trouble. ? Obs.
1804Revol. Plutarch III. 232 The snuff-box for which I am now pinched, interrupted my career to the consulate for life, in the same manner as a gold bracelet squeezed me in 1796, and prevented me from being a Director.
d. To subject to strong constraint or pressure.
1888Christian Leader 28 June 403/2 The sense of being squeezed makes even a pliant man stiffen his back and become obstinate. 1898Times 15 Nov. 9/4 The notion that England can be ‘squeezed’ indefinitely and will submit to any humiliation.
e. To exert commercial or financial pressure on (someone); to restrict a supply of money, credit, goods, etc.; spec. in Stock Market usage, to force dealers in shorts to settle at a loss.
1885Harper's Mag. Nov. 842/1 The bulls get a ‘twist on the shorts’ by artificially raising prices, and ‘squeezing’, or compelling the bears to settle at ruinous rates. 1900S. A. Nelson ABC Wall St. 160 When shorts become frightened after having oversold and then are forced to violently bid up prices in competition with the owners of stocks they are said to have been squeezed. 1902L. L. Bell Hope Loring xiv. 272 You squeezed me badly in '93. 1951Times 3 Jan. 7/2 The domestic consumer of coal and coke is already being squeezed, but he often uses more gas and more electricity as a result. 1970Daily Tel. 3 Sept. 3/2 The Government can scarcely ask banks to squeeze their customers when a State Corporation is advertising loans to attract business. 1978Jrnl. R. Soc. Arts CXXVI. 390/2 Manufacturing industry's profits have been greatly squeezed.
4. a. With out: To press or force out; to cause to ooze or flow out by the application of pressure.
1599B. Jonson Ev. Man out of Hum. Prol., To seize on vice, and..Squeeze out the humour of such spongie soules As lick up every idle vanity. 1602Marston Ant. & Mel. iv. Wks. 1856 I. 49 Even this brinish marsh Shall squeaze out teares. 1696Bp. Patrick Comm. Exod. xxvii. (1697) 526 Pure Oyl-olive,..not squeezed out by a Press or by a Mill,..but..bruised with a Pestel. 1746Francis tr. Hor., Sat. ii. v. 171 Squeeze out some teares. 1789J. Williams Min. Kingd. I. 64 These troubles sometimes squeeze out one third, and at other times one half or more of the thickness of the coal. 1829N. Arnott Physics (ed. 4) II. 12 It becomes instantly sensible on the condensation of any material mass, as if then squeezed out from the mass. 1854Thackeray Newcomes xxviii, Lady Kew could..squeeze out a tear over a good novel too. 1892Garrett's Encycl. Cookery II. 40 Squeeze out all the juice from the selected quantity of Seville Oranges.
b. In fig. use.
1641Sir T. Roe in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1910) Apr. 273 My last remonstrance hath squeezed out an answere both from the emperor and the Spanish ambassador. 1704Swift Tale Tub Author's Apol., From whence some have endeavoured to Squeeze out a dangerous meaning. 1821V. Knox Spirit of Despotism (ed. 2) 36/1 note, Speeches in favour of the emperor, which the dread of impending evil squeezed out of many against their will and better judgment. 1835Gentl. Mag. Nov. IV. 492 No old maids with their mouths, like purses, Squeezing out compliments like curses. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. i. i. ii, Poverty invades even the Royal Exchequer, and Tax-farming can squeeze out no more.
5. a. To extort or exact, to obtain by force or pressure, from or out of a person, etc. Also rarely without const.
(a)1602Marston Antonio's Rev. ii. v. Wks. 1856 I. 103 Ile wring what may be squeas'd from out his use. 1693Humours Town 24 The Jilt squeezes out of him a new Petticoat. 1700Dr. Wallis Collect. (O.H.S.) I. 325 The rest serves..for a pretense to squeeze the more money from the gentleman. 1771Nicholls in Corr. w. Gray (1843) 121 In four months I have only been able to squeeze two [letters] from you. 1802–12Bentham Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827) IV. 65 note, The above..was the sum squeezed by the judge out of the clerk. 1848Mill Pol. Econ. i. v. §9 (1876) 51 Food and necessaries, which they either go without, or squeeze by their competition from the shares of other labourers. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. iii. i, When it comes to squeezing a profit out of you.
(b)1800Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1834) I. 273 The Nizam's horse are going about the country squeezing what they can get. 1898Daily News 15 July 7/7 In cases where holders are pressed concessions can be squeezed.
b. To extract (juice, etc.) by pressure. (Cf. 4.)
1611Cotgr., Escrager, to crush, or squeeze out of. 1700Dryden Flower & Leaf 419 They squeez'd the juice, and cooling ointment made. 1710Addison Tatler No. 131 ⁋1 They can squeeze Bourdeaux out of the Sloe. 1758Reid tr. Macquer's Chym. I. 136 To squeeze out of them all such parts of their substance as they will..part with. 1845Budd Dis. Liver 359 From some of them a little pus, as well as bile, could be squeezed. 1891Codrington Melanesians xvi. 316 The cream squeezed out from grated cocoa-nut.
c. To put or drop in (a fluid extracted by pressure).
1725Fam. Dict. s.v. Potage, Squeezing in some Lemon Juice when served up. 1794G. Adams Nat. & Exper. Philos. III. xxxii. 301 A viscous or slimy liquor that is squeesed in, as if from a sponge, between every joint.
d. To succeed in purchasing out of a sum.
1768Sterne Sent. Journ., Le Dimanche, He had squeez'd out of the money, moreover, a new bag and a solitaire.
e. Bridge. To force (an opponent) to discard a guarding or potentially winning card.
1926Work-Whitehead Auction Bridge Bull. Jan. 118/2, I will give the three cards remaining in each of the four hands to show how South was squeezed by the lead of the Queen of Clubs. 1934G. F. Hervey Mod. Contract Bridge xxi. 223 The Americans now call this coup [sc. the Vienna coup] Squeezing or Squeeze Play. The name is apt as the play of the declarer is such that he squeezes the opponents and forces them to discard and unguard a suit. 1949H. G. Freehill Squeeze at Bridge i. 19 The essential features of the squeeze are three. First: there must be a squeeze-card. That is, a card to the lead of which the player who is squeezed has to discard. 1959T. Reese Bridge Player's Dict. 209 Playing no trump, South lays down the ten of hearts and West is squeezed; he must either unguard spades of throw away the winning diamond. 1979N. Squire Squeeze Play Simplified i. 4 The two menaces are on the left of the player to be squeezed, the squeeze card on his right.
6. absol.
a. To press hard; to exert pressure, esp. with the hand.
1692R. L'Estrange æsop lv. 55 He [the fox] squeez'd hard to get out again; but the Hole was too Little for him. 1768Gray Comic 3 For thee does Powell squeeze, and Marriot sputter. 1775[Fitzpatrick] Dorinda (ed. 2) 6 And oh! what bliss, when each alike is pleas'd, The hand that squeezes, and the hand that's squeez'd! 1819Scott Leg. Montrose xiii, If he offer to struggle or cry out, fail not..to squeeze doughtily. 1974J. Gardner Corner Men xiii. 188 The man in the rear of the Merc fired once... Wright squeezed twice.
b. To take a squeeze or facsimile impression.
1890Athenæum 4 Oct. 455/1 The overhang of the rock makes it extremely difficult to ‘squeeze’ satisfactorily.
7. intr. To yield to pressure; to admit of being squeezed. Also fig.
1683Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xi. ⁋1 Every Joynt between these are subject to squeeze by the force of a Pull. Ibid. xxiv. ⁋5 Solid Blocks of Wood..will scarce Squeeze by the strength of a Pull. 1771Luckombe Hist. Print. 327 Bran squeezes much more—But plaister of Paris not at all. 1844Dickens Mart. Chuz. xliii, ‘He's the sort of man,’ added Mr. Tapley, musing, ‘as would squeeze soft, I know’. 1892Labour Commission Gloss. No. 3 s.v. Creep, The tendency of the roof, floor, and sides..in a mine to ‘creep, crush, or squeeze together.
8. To force a way; to press or push; to succeed in passing by means of compression. With advs. and preps. as in, into, out (of), through, up (to), etc.
1704Newton Optics ii. iii. prop. 8 (1721) 242 A concave Sphere of Gold filled with Water..has, upon pressing the Sphere with great force, let the Water squeeze through it. 1710Brit. Apollo No. 83. 3/1 We squeez'd up the Stair-Case. 1738Gentl. Mag. VIII. 34/1 There is always a confused Crowd about him... Now and then a Poet squeezes in. 1771Smollett Humph. Cl. (1815) 117 The old duke..squeezing into the circle with a busy face of importance. 1810Lady S. Lyttelton Corr. (1912) iv. 95, I saw Hartington as we were squeezing out of the theatre. 1831Macaulay in Trevelyan iv. (1913) I. 235, I contrived to squeeze up to Lord Lansdowne. 1844‘J. Slick’ High Life N.Y. II. 195, I sot down on a bench runnin over with harnsome gals, that squoze close together and squinched themselves up to make room for me. 1848L. Hunt Jar of Honey iv. 48 Don't stir an inch; and so We'll all squeeze in together. 1897M. Kingsley W. Africa 255 We squeeze through between the stakes so as not to let the trap off. 1928A. A. Milne House at Pooh Corner viii. 143 He squeezed and he sqoze [sic], and then with one last squze he was out. |