squeeze through

Idioms  

1. Also, squeeze by. Manage to pass, win, or survive by a narrow margin, as in We squeezed through the second round of playoffs, or There was just enough food stored in the cabin for us to squeeze by until the hurricane ended. This idiom uses squeeze in the sense of “succeed by means of compression.” [c. 1700] Also see squeak by.

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Example Sentences

The passages won’t be large enough for bighorn — with their broad horns — to squeeze through, advocates say.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

The lane was about 500 feet wide, just enough for a supertanker to squeeze through.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Crowds squeeze through the Salle des États - the gallery where the Mona Lisa is displayed - leaving each visitor only moments to view the painting and snap a photo.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2025

But who takes care of what gets complicated quickly, and that helps explain why so many outbreaks seem to squeeze through the cracks.

From Salon • Aug. 15, 2024

The only window was too high to allow her a view and too small to squeeze through, but more than large enough to let in the chill.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin