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squeeze off

C1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To pull the trigger of a gun to fire a bullet

Literal meaning: To literally squeeze the trigger 'off' — completing the firing action through gentle pressure rather than a pull or jerk

Meanings

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."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

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.

Commonly used with

round shot burst bullet volley

Forms

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

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Synonyms

fire shoot discharge let off fire off

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