squeeze out

Friendly

Explanation of "Squeeze Out"

Definition:
"Squeeze out" is a verb phrase that means to force something to come out by applying pressure. It can refer to liquids, information, or even people in a competitive situation.

Usage Instructions:

• Context: You can use "squeeze out" in various contexts, such as when talking about liquids, extracting information, or describing a competitive situation where someone is forced out.
• Forms: It can be used in different tenses, such as "squeezed out" for the past tense.

Examples:

1. Liquid Context: "She squeezed out the last bit of toothpaste from the tube."
2. Information Context: "He managed to squeeze out some details about the project from his coworker."
3. Competitive Context: "Many small businesses were squeezed out by the larger corporations."

Advanced Usage:

• In a more advanced context, "squeeze out" can also imply a struggle to obtain something valuable or necessary. For instance, "Despite the challenges, she was able to squeeze out a profit from her small business."

Word Variants:

• Squeeze (verb): To apply pressure to something.
• Squeezed (past tense): The action of having applied pressure.
• Squeeze (noun): The act of squeezing something.

Different Meanings:

1. Literal Meaning: Forcing a liquid out of a container by applying pressure.

   • Example: "He squeezed the lemon to get juice."

2. Figurative Meaning: Extracting information or resources with difficulty.

   • Example: "The journalist squeezed out the truth from the reluctant witness."

3. Competitive Meaning: Forcing someone or something out of a position or situation.

   • Example: "The new regulations squeezed out many of the smaller players in the industry."

Synonyms:

• Extract
• Wring out
• Force out
• Eke out (to obtain with difficulty)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Wring out: This is similar to "squeeze out" but often refers specifically to removing water from a wet cloth.

  • Example: "After washing the car, he wrung out the sponge."

• Eke out: To manage to make a small amount last longer or to obtain something with difficulty.

  • Example: "He eked out a living by doing odd jobs."

Summary:

"Squeeze out" is a versatile phrase used to describe the action of forcing something to come out, whether it’s liquid, information, or even people in a competitive scenario. It has various contexts and can be used both literally and figuratively.

Academic

Verb

1. cause to come out in a squirt
   • the boy squirted water at his little sister
2. form or shape by forcing through an opening
   • extrude steel
3. obtain with difficulty
   • He eked out some information from the archives
4. extract (liquid) by squeezing or pressing
   • wring out the washcloth
5. make by laborious and precarious means
   • He eked out a living as a painter
6. force out
   • Some employees were squeezed out by the recent budget cuts

Synonyms

• squirt
• force out
• eject
• extrude
• eke out
• wring out