1
general::
Hide or store, as in She squirreled away her savings in at least four different banks. This expression alludes to the squirrel's habit of hiding nuts and acorns in the ground. [First half of 1900s]
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): squirrel something away
Fig. to hide something or store something in the way that a squirrel stores nuts for use in the winter. • I squirreled a little money away for an occasion such as this. • Liz squirreled away a lot of money while she was working.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs