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

But bighorn — with their broad, curved horns — can’t squeeze through.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026

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

Dean, who finished with 2-28, trapped White Ferns captain Sophie Devine lbw and that meant England could squeeze through their spin trio of Dean, Glenn and Smith and push the required run-rate up.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2024

But on Thursday, they did come to campaign events for Mr. Phillips, who had to squeeze through a crowd at the University of New Hampshire at Manchester.

From New York Times • Jan. 19, 2024

Father hits the wall and begins trying to squeeze through.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz