espremer

Senses

1. 1.

   to squeeze

   to press firmly to extract liquid or to compress something

2. 2.

   to wring out

   to twist and squeeze fabric to remove water

3. 3.

   to squeeze into

   to fit into a tight space by compressing

4. 4.

   to rack (one's brain)

   to think hard or strain mentally (figurative use)

Examples

• "Vou espremer uma laranja para fazer suco fresco."

  I'm going to squeeze an orange to make fresh juice.

• "Ela espremeu a roupa molhada antes de colocar no varal."

  She wrung out the wet clothes before putting them on the clothesline.

• "Conseguimos espremer mais três pessoas no carro."

  We managed to squeeze three more people into the car.

Usage

Very common verb in everyday Brazilian Portuguese. Often used with fruits (espremer limão, laranja) and clothes (espremer a roupa). The reflexive form "se espremer" means to squeeze oneself into a space. Common collocation: "espremer os miolos" (rack one's brains).