squeeze through

Idioms

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.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026

Often it seems, this cosy spot would appear to be a window sill, as ladybirds can easily squeeze through the small gaps around loose fitting windows.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 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 door cracks open just wide enough for an adult to squeeze through sideways.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023