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Synonyms

tight squeeze

Idioms  

  1. A difficulty caused by too little time or space, or too little credit or funds. For example, It will be a tight squeeze to get there on time, or I don't know if the sofa will go through the door; it's a tight squeeze, or The company's in a tight squeeze because of poor cash flow. This idiom uses tight in the sense of “too narrow or constricted.” [c. 1900]

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.

Even the roomiest home might be a tight squeeze.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026

The family and their three dogs had to stay with Catherine's parents, which was a tight squeeze.

From BBC • Aug. 21, 2024

With pipes coming together in a confined area, it was a tight squeeze to make repairs, with only one worker at a time working in the manhole accessing the junction.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 2, 2024

Though he appreciated playing in a historic stadium, Ferentz wasn’t thrilled with some of the logistics, such as sharing a sideline and a tight squeeze in some spots with the brick wall.

From Washington Times • Nov. 4, 2023

I surprise myself by giving Jack a hug—an ultra-awkward tight squeeze around his neck.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.