щемить

To bully, to harass, to press, to crack down on. A street slang verb meaning to intimidate, oppress, or exert aggressive pressure on someone, typically by authorities, rival gangs, or older bullies (менты щемят торговцев — “the cops are cracking down on the traders”; местные начали нас щемить — “the locals started bullying us”).

Выше говорилось, что жаловаться на администрацию надо осторожно, но это не значит, что, пожаловавшись, вы выйдете на тропу смертельной войны. Ничего подобного, «щемить» вас вряд ли станут, побоятся.

It was mentioned earlier that one should be cautious when complaining about the administration, but that doesn’t mean that filing a complaint puts you on a path of deadly war. Quite the opposite — they are unlikely to “squeeze” you; they’ll be too afraid.

(Владимир Ажиппо @ tyurem.net)

To squeeze through, to wedge oneself in, to scurry away; to be terrified, to cower, to hide out of fear. Derived from the standard verb щемить (originally meaning to pinch, squeeze, or cause a gnawing ache), which evolved into a reflexive form denoting restricted or fearful movement. In everyday slang, it carries two distinct notes: first, it means to squeeze or push oneself into a tight space, or to frantically bolt/flee from a scene (все начали щемиться из вагона — “everyone started squeezing out of the carriage”); second, particularly in street, military, or prison subcultures, it means to hide away out of sheer fear, to cower, or to avoid someone dangerous (чё ты щемишься от меня? — “why are you hiding from me?”).

Восколько лучше щемиться на обед?

What is the best time to go for lunch?

(Андрей @ mail.ru, 08/2011)