The main squeeze 👨‍👸

Meaning

A person's primary romantic partner or sweetheart.

Origin

The "squeeze" likely originates from the Victorian era, referring to a secret or illicit lover, someone you might clandestinely "squeeze" in for a private moment. Over time, "main" was added to specify the most important or principal romantic interest among potentially several. It became a playful, somewhat informal way to refer to one's steady boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife, a term that still carries a touch of affectionate, old-fashioned charm.

💖 love 🔒 secrets 🗣️ communication 📅🕰️ 20th 21st century

The main squeeze represented with emoji👨‍👸

This playful combination of emojis, 👨‍👸, serves as a delightful visual pun on the phrase 'the main squeeze.' It functions as a charming shorthand, inviting viewers to consider the intimate dynamics of a primary romantic relationship. Note how the stark visual elements echo the simplicity and directness of emoji language, underscoring the universal theme of finding one's special someone.

Examples

  • He introduced Sarah as his main squeeze to his parents.
  • She's been my main squeeze for over five years now.
  • The knight gallantly rescued the princess, his one and only main squeeze.
  • My dog is definitely my main squeeze, showering me with slobbery kisses every day.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'the main squeeze' a formal or informal phrase?

The phrase 'the main squeeze' is highly informal and often used in a playful or affectionate context. Its origins in referring to secret lovers contribute to its lack of formality.

Can 'the main squeeze' refer to someone other than a romantic partner?

While 'the main squeeze' almost exclusively refers to a primary romantic partner, in a very stretched and jocular sense, it could theoretically refer to someone's most important or favored possession. However, this usage is rare and departs from the idiom's core meaning.

What's a more old-fashioned or traditional term for 'the main squeeze'?

More traditional terms for 'the main squeeze' include 'sweetheart,' 'steady,' or 'intended.' These terms also convey a primary romantic attachment, though 'the main squeeze' carries a distinctively playful and somewhat dated charm.

Is 'the main squeeze' considered an idiom or a proverb?

'The main squeeze' is considered an idiom, not a proverb. Idioms are phrases where the meaning isn't deducible from the individual words, often with colorful or metaphorical origins, whereas proverbs are typically concise sayings that offer advice or wisdom.

Similar to "the main squeeze"

My one and only
Both phrases celebrate a person's primary romantic partner, but this one sounds like a vow whispered from a fairytale, far more earnest and less playful than 'the main squeeze'
The apple of my eye
Both phrases point to someone cherished above all others, but this one offers a gentler, more adoring gaze, eschewing the slightly cheeky, possessive tone of 'the main squeeze'
Significant other
Both phrases refer to a primary romantic partner, but 'significant other' carries a more formal, even legalistic weight, whereas 'the main squeeze' is pure, unadulterated slang

Opposite of "the main squeeze"

Just a friend
This phrase argues for casual, uncommitted connections, standing in stark contrast to the singular devotion implied by 'the main squeeze' and highlights a desire to keep romantic entanglements low-stakes
A side piece
This phrase champions the thrill of the illicit and the secondary, directly opposing 'the main squeeze' by celebrating not the primary partner, but the exciting, clandestine addition

Related to "the main squeeze"

Old flame
This phrase evokes a past romantic relationship, sharing with 'the main squeeze' the territory of significant romantic connections, but anchors it firmly in memory rather than the present
Steady
This word brings to mind a committed, long-term relationship, orbiting 'the main squeeze' through its implication of a primary romantic tie, but with a more old-fashioned, less slangy feel
Plus one
'Plus one' refers to the person accompanying someone to an event, conceptually linked to 'the main squeeze' as it often defaults to the primary romantic partner, yet it’s a label for convenience rather than affection