squeeze (redirected from putting the squeeze on)

put the heat on (someone) and put the screws on (someone); put the squeeze on (someone); put the heat on; put the screws on; put the squeeze on

Sl. to put pressure on someone (to do something); to coerce someone. John wouldn't talk, so the police were putting the heat on him to confess. When my boss puts the screws on, he can be very unpleasant. The police know how to put the squeeze on.

See also: heat, put

put the squeeze on someone 

1. Inf. to attempt to get money out of someone. The mob put the squeeze on all the merchants, threatening to break their windows if they didn't pay. Are you trying to put the squeeze on me for more money?

2. Go to put the heat on (someone).

See also: put

squeeze (themselves) together

[for creatures] to press close together. The little pigs squeezed themselves together to get a better chance at some food. They squeezed together and gobbled their dinner. They squeezed themselves together to keep warm.

See also: together

squeeze (themselves) up

[for people] to press themselves closely together. Everyone squeezed themselves up in the tiny car so there would be room for one more. Let's squeeze up so Jamie can sit down. They squeezed themselves up so they would take less space.

See also: up

squeeze someone or something into something and squeeze someone or something in

to press or push someone or something into something small. Let's see if we can squeeze everyone into the car. Let's squeeze in one more.

squeeze someone or something through (something)

to push and compress until someone or something passes through something. John's cellmate managed to squeeze John through the window just before the guards walked by. I squeezed some food through the crack and the trapped miner was glad to get it.

See also: through

squeeze someone or something together

to press people or things together. The driver squeezed us together so he could get more people in the taxi. See if you can squeeze the vegetables together a little so we can get more in the basket.

See also: together

squeeze someone or something up

to press people or things close together. The usher tried to squeeze us up so she could seat more people. Don't squeeze up the cars too tight in the parking area.

See also: up

squeeze something from something 

1. Lit. to press something out of something; to press on something until something comes out. Betty squeezed some toothpaste from the tube. Don't squeeze so much mustard from the bottle.

2. Fig. to get a little more of something from something. Let's see if we can squeeze a few more miles from this tank of gas before we fill up again. I think I can squeeze another few minutes from this candle before I have to light a new one.

squeeze something out of something and squeeze something out

to press something until something is expelled from something. Claire squeezed some toothpaste out of the tube. She squeezed out some toothpaste.

See also: out

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.

squeeze through something

to manage to press oneself through an opening. I think I can squeeze through the window and get out of this place. The cat squeezed through a hole in the fence and got away.

See also: through

squeeze up against someone or something

to press close up against someone or something. He squeezed up against me, trying to keep warm. The puppies squeezed up against their mother.

See also: against, up

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be somebody's main squeeze  (American informal)

to be the person that someone has a romantic or sexual relationship with Didn't you know? Jennifer is Bob's main squeeze.

See also: main

put the heat on somebody  

1. (British, American & Australian) to try to force or persuade someone to do something (usually + to do sth) Environmental groups are putting the heat on the government to stop pollution from power stations.

2. (American & Australian) if you put the heat on someone who is competing with you, you start to do well so they have to work harder or play better The Dodgers have won three games in a row and are starting to put the heat on the Mets.

See also: heat, put

put the squeeze on somebody/something  

1. to try to influence a person or organization to make them act in the way you want Human rights activists hope the US president will put the squeeze on the island's rulers.

2. to cause problems for someone, especially by making it difficult for them to achieve something The recession has put the squeeze on many small businesses.

See also: put

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put the squeeze on somebody/something

to put pressure on someone or something I hate telephone calls that put the squeeze on me to contribute to something, even to something obviously good. Higher numbers of commuters using buses and trains have put the squeeze on public transportation.

See also: put

squeeze somebody/something out (of something) also squeeze out somebody/something

to prevent someone or something from having an opportunity High prices for houses squeezed many people out of the market. Big Fellow Hamburger Stands tried illegally to squeeze out its competitors.

See also: out

squeeze something out of somebody/something

to get something with great effort from someone or something Albert was good at thinking of ways to squeeze money out of his father in England. Fred didn't like to tell the truth, and you had to squeeze it out of him.

See also: out