squeeze play


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squeeze play

1. In baseball, a play in which the batter bunts to give a runner on third base a chance to reach home plate and score a run. Primarily heard in US. The botched squeeze play led to the batter and the runner being tagged out. No one was expecting a squeeze play when their star hitter went up to bat.
2. By extension, a situation in which a great deal of pressure is applied to someone or something in order to achieve a certain outcome or goal. With both houses of congress controlled by the opposing political party, the president is now facing a squeeze play regarding the federal budget. The mega corporation is using its vast resources and political influence to initiate a squeeze play against its competition.
See also: play, squeeze

squeeze play

A situation in which pressure exerted to obtain a concession or achieve a goal, as in Workers sometimes feel caught in a squeeze play between union and management. This expression, dating from about 1900, originated in baseball, where it refers to a prearranged play in which the runner on third base breaks for home plate on the pitch, and the batter bunts. [c. 1915]
See also: play, squeeze

squeeze play

n. a special play in baseball where there is a runner on third base and the batter bunts. (With an early start the runner may reach home plate.) They pulled off that squeeze play like the professionals they are.
See also: play, squeeze
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