to squeeze by - Glite Dictionary

Examples

Could I possibly squeeze by?

The Pick-up Artist (1987)
So, so you, you, they're getting squeezed by costs of the actual real estate itself and the costs of the debt.
They have to squeeze by until their next paycheck arrives, using what little money they have left.
After losing her job, she was amazed at how she could squeeze by on such a tight budget.

Synonyms

to survive

vsto squeeze by

425 2.7

Manage to live on very little money

is narrower, stressing only just enough resources or effort rather than general survival

to get by

vsto squeeze by

121 3.1

Manage to live with little money or help

is narrower, meaning to do so with only just enough resources

to make ends meet

vsto squeeze by

Informal

56 3.5

To live on a small amount of money

is broader, covering money, effort, and other scarce resources

to subsist

vsto squeeze by

11 7.2

Manage to live with very little food or money

is less formal and used for everyday managing with only just enough resources

to scrape by

vsto squeeze by

10 5.1

To manage to live with very little money

is broader, covering money, effort, or resources that are barely enough

to squeak by

vsto squeeze by

Informal

4 7.2

Manage to succeed or continue with only a small amount

is about surviving on only minimal resources rather than brief success

to rub along

vsto squeeze by

UK

1 7.5

To manage to live with little money

is more about surviving with only just enough rather than coping calmly

to scratch by

vsto squeeze by

6.9

To manage to live with very little money

is wider, including effort and other scarce resources not only money

to scratch along

vsto squeeze by

UK

7.8

Manage to live with very little money

is about managing with only just enough rather than extreme hardship

to scrape along

vsto squeeze by

UK

6.9

Live with difficulty because you have little money

is focused on having only just enough resources rather than general difficulty

Antonyms

to thrive

241 3.2

To grow well and be successful

to flourish

116 4.1

To grow strongly and be healthy or successful

How Comfortable

to thrive

241 3.2

to get by

121 3.1

to squeeze by

Informal

1 5.8

to scrape by

10 5.1

struggle

466 3.2

Surface Forms

squeeze by infinitive

squeezed by past

squeezed by past participle

squeezing by present participle

squeezes by third person singular

Morphology

squeeze + by

The sense 'manage to get by with only just enough' is a metaphorical extension of 'squeeze' (pressure/tightness) suggesting limited resources, but this meaning is not directly or fully signalled by the particle 'by' and requires a figurative leap. Because learners could infer a general notion of difficulty from 'squeeze' yet would not reliably predict the exact 'get by' meaning (and might instead interpret a physical passing sense like 'squeeze past'), the expression is best classified as partially transparent.

Etymology

Squeeze by comes from the image of a person pushing through a very small gap or a tight crowd: they squeeze and just get by. That's why 'to squeeze by' means 'to get by' with only just enough money or help.