Squeak by 🤏💨

Meaning

To succeed at something by a very narrow margin, often with minimal effort or resources.

Origin

Imagine a tiny mouse, its fur bristling, desperately trying to squeeze through a barely open door. It's a thin distinction between making it and being caught, right? This vivid image likely gave us 'squeak by'. The 'squeak' evokes that tiny, high-pitched sound of effort and the narrowness of the escape, while 'by' signifies just managing to get past an obstacle. It’s the phrase for when you win by a hair, pass a test with the lowest possible score, or scrape together just enough money to avoid disaster – a successful, yet precarious, accomplishment.

🏆 success ☠️ risk 💰 money ❌📉 failure 💪🙏 pride

Squeak by represented with emoji🤏💨

This playful juxtaposition of a tiny hand and a puff of air 🤏💨 invites a dialogue on the precarious nature of success. It functions as a whimsical reminder that sometimes, just barely making it is enough, underscoring the delicate dance between effort and outcome.

Examples

  • We managed to squeak by the exam with a low passing grade.
  • The company will likely squeak by this quarter if sales improve slightly.
  • The little mouse, with a determined twitch of his whiskers, managed to squeak by the sleeping cat.
  • The unicyclist, juggling three teacups, somehow managed to squeak by the finish line just before the music stopped.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'squeak by' considered a formal or informal idiom?

'Squeak by' is definitely an informal idiom. It's typically used in casual conversation or writing to describe a situation where someone barely succeeds.

What's the opposite meaning of 'squeak by'?

The opposite of 'squeak by' could be to 'dominate', 'excel', or 'effortlessly succeed'. These phrases imply achieving success with a significant margin, plenty of resources, or considerable effort, unlike the narrow escape of 'squeaking by'.

Can you 'squeak by' without actually succeeding?

No, you cannot 'squeak by' without succeeding, even if narrowly. The core of the idiom is a minimal, precarious, but ultimately successful passage or achievement.

Does 'squeak by' always imply a lack of effort?

While 'squeak by' often suggests minimal effort or resources, it doesn't strictly mean no effort was involved, but rather that the effort was just enough to barely pass. The focus is on the narrowness of the victory, not necessarily total laziness.

Similar to "squeak by"

Scrape by
Both phrases mean to barely get by, but 'scrape by' often implies a struggle against hardship, whereas 'squeak by' suggests a last-second, almost effortless save
Just make it
This captures the narrow success of 'squeak by,' but 'just make it' is more straightforward and less about the almost comical, tiny margin of victory implied by a squeak
Get by on a shoestring
Both speak to minimal resources, but 'get by on a shoestring' emphasizes the extreme lack of funds, while 'squeak by' focuses on the precariousness of the achievement itself

Opposite of "squeak by"

Knock it out of the park
This phrase argues for a resounding, overwhelming success, celebrating a performance that shatters expectations, a direct counterpoint to the minimal, barely-achieved victory of 'squeak by'
Leave no stone unturned
This champions thoroughness and diligence, urging exhaustive effort where 'squeak by' implies cutting corners and relying on luck; it's a moral argument for putting in the work
Crush the competition
Instead of barely winning, this advocates for dominating and utterly defeating rivals, showcasing superior performance and leaving no doubt about the victor—the antithesis of a narrow escape

Related to "squeak by"

Slim margin
'Slim margin' shares the core idea of a narrow difference, often describing the size of the victory that someone 'squeaks by' on
Close call
This captures the near-failure aspect inherent in 'squeak by,' highlighting the dangerous proximity to defeat that was narrowly avoided
Luck out
Often, the reason someone can 'squeak by' is pure luck, making 'luck out' a common explanation for such thin victories
Barely afloat
This shares the precariousness of 'squeak by,' suggesting a state of survival on the very edge, often with just enough to keep going but no room for error