squeak
squeak — noun
- squeaksingular
- squeaksplural
1. a brief, high-pitched noise, like the sound made by a mouse, a dry hinge, or rub
a brief, high-pitched noise, like the sound made by a mouse, a dry hinge, or rubber soles sliding on a clean floor
The cat perked up its ears at the faint squeak of a mouse behind the kitchen wall.
collocation: faint squeak (quiet high sound)
Olga let out a tiny squeak of surprise when she opened her cousin's gift from Brazil.
let out a squeak + of [emotion]
The old wooden stairs in Ingrid's building make a loud squeak whenever someone steps on them.
The loud squeak of wet sneakers on the gym floor echoed through the empty hall.
文法句型
a squeak (of something)
let out a squeak
用法筆記
Often used with 'of' followed by an emotion: a squeak of fright / surprise / excitement. Also common in the negative: 'not a squeak' means no sound or no communication at all.
常見錯誤
2. a situation in which someone only just avoids failure, danger, or defeat, succee
a situation in which someone only just avoids failure, danger, or defeat, succeeding by a very small difference
The election was a real squeak — the winner got just twelve votes more than the loser.
pattern: a real squeak (informal, emphasising narrow margin)
Diego escaped the falling branch by a squeak when it landed just behind his heels.
The business was saved by a squeak when a last-minute investor agreed to back the project.
The team's one-point victory was a close squeak that left the fans breathless.
- close call
the more common equivalent in everyday speech, especially in American English
- narrow escape
focuses on avoiding danger rather than just succeeding by a small margin
文法句型
a close squeak
by a squeak
用法筆記
The common fixed phrase is 'close squeak' (= a narrow escape). This sense is almost always preceded by 'a' and a modifier (close, real, narrow). Less common in American English; 'close call' is more frequent in the US.
常見錯誤
squeak — verb
- squeakpresent simple I / you / we / they
- squeakshe / she / it
- squeakedpast simple
- squeaking-ing form
1. when an animal, object, or human voice produces a brief, high-pitched sound of l
when an animal, object, or human voice produces a brief, high-pitched sound of low volume
The mouse squeaked and ran under the sofa when Kenji turned on the kitchen light.
animal subject: mouse squeaks (typical)
Fatima's bicycle brakes squeak every time she rides in wet weather.
The old man's voice squeaked with emotion as he read the letter from his daughter.
The rusty back gate squeaked loudly whenever the wind blew it open.
- creak
a deeper, lower-pitched sound, typically from wood or metal slowly moving
- squeal
a longer, louder, higher-pitched sound, often from excitement or brakes
- screech
a harsh, very loud, high sound made by tires, birds, or people
- pipe
a less common verb meaning to make a high sound with the voice, like a young child
文法句型
squeak (with/from something)
squeak + adj (e.g. squeak open)
用法筆記
The subject is usually an animal (mouse, rat, bat), an object (door, hinge, floorboard, brake), or a human voice under strain (nervousness, excitement, old age). Not used for loud, harsh sounds — those use 'screech' or 'squeal'.
常見錯誤
2. to achieve a pass, win, or place by such a narrow margin that failure was almost
to achieve a pass, win, or place by such a narrow margin that failure was almost the outcome
Mei-Lin studied late every night that week and just squeaked through the final exam.
pattern: squeak through [exam/test]
The underdog team squeaked past the champions with a goal in the final minute.
pattern: squeak past [opponent]
Priyanka squeaked into the last available spot on the nursing programme just before the deadline.
The new environmental bill squeaked through parliament with just one vote to spare.
- scrape through
very similar meaning; suggests a more desperate or close struggle
- just pass
neutral term without the vivid sound metaphor; less informal
- narrowly win
more formal; used especially in sports and competitions
文法句型
squeak through something
squeak by something
squeak past someone
squeak into something
用法筆記
This sense is always followed by an adverb or prepositional phrase (through, by, past, into) that specifies what was narrowly achieved. The simple form 'He squeaked' without a complement has a different meaning (the animal/object sound sense).