Words nearby squeak
Origin of squeak
1350–1400; Middle English squeken, perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Swedish skväka to croak
OTHER WORDS FROM squeak
squeak·ing·ly, adverbDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for squeak by
squeak
/ (skwiːk) /
noun
a short shrill cry or high-pitched sound
informal an escape (esp in the phrases narrow squeak, near squeak)
verb
to make or cause to make a squeak
(intr ; usually foll by through or by) to pass with only a narrow marginto squeak through an examination
(intr) informal to confess information about oneself or another
(tr) to utter with a squeak
Derived forms of squeak
squeaker, nounsqueaky, adjectivesqueakily, adverbsqueakiness, nounWord Origin for squeak
C17: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish skväka to croak
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Idioms and Phrases with squeak by
squeak by
Also, squeak through. Manage barely to pass, win, survive, or the like, as in They are just squeaking by on their income, or He squeaked through the driver's test. This idiom transfers squeak in the sense of “barely emit a sound” to “narrowly manage something.” [First half of 1900s] Also see squeeze through.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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