1 C1 neutral
To fire one or more shots from a gun by squeezing the trigger
"The marksman steadied his breathing and squeezed off a single shot at the target."
separable
squeeze off
C1 neutral separable transitive
To fire a shot from a gun by carefully squeezing the trigger
In plain English
To pull the trigger of a gun to fire a bullet
What does "squeeze off" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To literally squeeze the trigger 'off' — completing the firing action through gentle pressure rather than a pull or jerk
Actually means
To pull the trigger of a gun to fire a bullet
Usage tip
Used in military, law enforcement, and firearms training contexts. Emphasises controlled, deliberate trigger operation rather than just firing. Also used in journalism and fiction when describing a shooter carefully taking aim and firing. Not common in everyday conversation.
Words that pair with "squeeze off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
round shot burst bullet volley
How to conjugate "squeeze off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
squeeze off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
squeezes off
he/she/it
Past simple
squeezed off
yesterday
Past participle
squeezed off
have + pp
-ing form
squeezing off
continuous
Hear "squeeze off" in the wild
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Other ways to say "squeeze off"
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