be like squeezing toothpaste; to disclose information reluctantly and piecemeal
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesverb phrase
to disclose information or speak in a piecemeal, reluctant manner; to be forced to tell the truth bit by bit after repeated questioning
informalUsed metaphorically, often implying the speaker is evasive, secretive, or trying to hide something, and only reveals information under pressure.
Wèn问
tā他
zuó昨
tiān天
qù去
nǎ哪
er儿
le了
，
tā他
jiù就
xiàng像
jǐ挤
yá牙
gāo膏
yī一
yàng样
，
wèn问
yī一
jù句
dá答
yī一
jù句
。
When asked where he went yesterday, he answered like he was squeezing toothpaste—just one sentence for each question.
Bié别
gēn跟
wǒ我
jǐ挤
yá牙
gāo膏
le了
，
bǎ把
shì事
qing情
de的
jīng经
guò过
wán完
zhěng整
de地
shuō说
chū出
lái来
。
Stop squeezing out information like toothpaste; tell me the whole story from start to finish.
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Tā他
jiāo交
dài代
wèn问
tí题
zǒng总
xǐ喜
huan欢
jǐ挤
yá牙
gāo膏
，
fēi非
děi得
jǐng警
chá察
ná拿
chū出
zhèng证
jù据
cái才
kěn肯
duō多
shuō说
yī一
diǎn点
。
He always confesses to problems like squeezing toothpaste; he only reveals more when the police present evidence.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
jǐ挤
yá牙
gāo膏
shì式
de的
gōu沟
tōng通
fāng方
shì式
ràng让
rén人
gǎn感
dào到
fēi非
cháng常
pí疲
bèi惫
。
This toothpaste-squeezing style of communication is very exhausting.
Guān关
yú于
xīn新
chǎn产
pǐn品
de的
fā发
bù布
shí时
jiān间
，
gōng公
sī司
fā发
yán言
rén人
de的
huí回
dá答
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
jǐ挤
yá牙
gāo膏
。
The company spokesperson's answers about the new product's release date were like squeezing toothpaste.