squeeze by

squeeze by

1. To manage to pass or move by someone or something with great difficulty due to a lack of space. I had to squeeze by these two very large gentlemen in order to get off the train. I wasn't sure I had enough room to get the car through the opening, but I managed to squeeze by.

2. To manage accomplish something by very narrowly overcoming some difficulty. I thought for sure I had failed the exam, but I managed to squeeze by with a D. Their championship dreams looked to be dashed, but a last-minute field goal saw the Raiders squeeze by and nab a spot at the Super Bowl.

See also: by, squeeze

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

squeeze by (someone or something)

to manage just to press oneself past someone or something. The hall was crowded and I had to squeeze by a number of rotund gentlemen. I squeezed by the crowd and ran on to my appointment.

See also: by, squeeze

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

squeeze by

v.

1. To force one's way past someone or something: I had to squeeze by the flight attendant to get to the bathroom. The vote on this bill will be close, but I think we can squeeze it by.

2. To succeed just barely in passing an obstacle, such as a competition or evaluation: The student squeezed by with a D minus.

See also: by, squeeze

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.