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squeeze

squeeze

23 5.5
A situation when money problems make it hard to manage things
  • noun
  • /skwiːz/
translation icon : restricción
  • And too many families are still feeling the squeeze almost a decade after the crash.
  • credit squeeze
  • put the squeeze on
  • a squeeze on profits

Thus, the gamma squeeze argument holds no water.

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Examples

  • "There was a big squeeze on companies," Runiewicz added.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Many businesses are struggling due to the current squeeze on their financial resources.

  • There was a cash flow squeeze.

  • Concerns over tuition squeeze are, in fact, evident.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The continuing credit squeeze has created an unexpected new speed bump in America's road to a secure energy future.

    Academic text (2010)
  • This is less than is needed just to stand still and after the longest funding squeeze in history, A&E waits are their worst ever.

  • Such a tactic to save money is a common "knee jerk" reaction to the impending financial squeeze in many school districts.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The ongoing economic crisis has led to a significant squeeze on public services.

  • During the recession, families felt the squeeze as they tried to make ends meet.

Synonyms

crunch
vssqueeze
  • Informal
45 6.0

A situation when there is not enough time or money

is more financial in focus, not only about urgent nonfinancial shortages
pinch
vssqueeze
  • Informal
40 4.5

A time when people have little money and life is hard

is more often about ongoing pressures rather than only sudden crises
tight budget
vssqueeze
10 2.9

A situation with only a little money to spend

is broader, covering pressures beyond simply having little spending money
credit crunch
vssqueeze
8 4.5

A time when banks make loans harder to get because they have little money

is broader, covering many pressure types beyond loan shortages
budget constraint
vssqueeze
  • Specialized
4 4.0

A limit on how much money you can spend

is less formal and concerns wider pressure types not only spending limits
tight money
vssqueeze
  • Literature
2 7.5

A time when banks lend less and interest rates are high

is broader, not restricted to high rates and specific credit policies
liquidity crisis
vssqueeze
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A time when people, banks, and businesses cannot get cash or loans quickly

is broader, involving pressures not limited to liquid asset shortages
tightness
vssqueeze
  • Specialized
1 6.4

A situation where money or credit is hard to get

is broader, applying to pressures beyond finance and resource handling
stringency
vssqueeze
  • Specialized
8.7

A time when money and loans are hard to get

is more general, covering pressures beyond strict economic constraint

Antonyms

91 3.3

A large amount of something, more than you need

Idioms

1 7.2

In a difficult situation with little time or money

Compounds

1 9.1

A baseball play where the runner on third base runs home as the batter lightly hits the ball

squeeze play
  • Jargon
1 7.5

A baseball play where a runner on third base tries to score as the batter bunts

1 7.4

A way of putting pressure on someone to make them agree

1 6.3

A box-shaped instrument with bellows that you press to make music, like an accordion

8.4

A play where a runner on third waits for a successful bunt before running home

8.4

A baseball play where a runner on third base waits for a bunt then runs home to avoid being out

A risky baseball play where the runner on third base runs home while the batter bunts

How Tight

crisis
3.1
crunch
  • Informal
45 6.0
squeeze
23 5.5
strain
  • Literature
48 3.3
comfort
105 1.5
abundance
91 3.3

Surface Forms

squeeze singular
squeezes plural

Etymology

Squeeze comes from an old German word meaning 'press', and that image of pressure explains the modern noun use: a 'squeeze' is a time of tight financial or other pressure when things are hard to manage.