Idiom: To squirrel something away; used as a verb
First Example:
Kyle: I bought a car!
Elizabeth: Really? How much are your monthly payments?
Kyle: I don't have any.
Elizabeth: What?! How?
Kyle: I've been squirreling away a little money from each paycheck for years, and it saved up over time! When my last car started having problems, I checked my savings and realized I had enough to buy a used car.
Elizabeth: Great! Then you can drive to lunch!
Elizabeth: Great! Then you can drive to lunch!
Meaning: The idiom "to squirrel something away" is used to describe the act of saving or hoarding for a future, similar to how squirrels save nuts for the coming winter. The most common use of the expression is used to describe saving money over a period of time, as in the example above, when Kyle explains that he has been squirreling away money for years. This means he has been saving small amounts of money over the years, intending to use it at a later time. While the idiom is primarily used for money, it can be used in other ways, as in this example:
Carlos: It's November. I guess it's time to start thinking about Christmas shopping.
Ronda: Oh, I'm already done.
Chris: No way.
Ronda: Yep. I start shopping for Christmas the day after. I keep an eye out for potential gifts at great prices year round. There are so many great sales early in the year. Then I squirrelthem away until December so that I don't have to rush when the holidays approach and everyone else is going nuts.
Chris: Wow. So you're saying the gift you give me this year was probably bought in January?
Ronda: Who said you're getting a gift? I'm just kidding. But I think I bought your gift in March.
