cinch

1
[ sinch ]
See synonyms for cinch on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a strong girth used on stock saddles, having a ring at each end to which a strap running from the saddle is secured.

  2. a firm hold or tight grip.

  1. Informal.

    • something sure or easy: This problem is a cinch.

    • a person or thing certain to fulfill an expectation, especially a team or contestant certain to win a sporting event: The Giants are a cinch to win Sunday's game.

verb (used with object)
  1. to gird with a cinch; gird or bind firmly.

  2. Informal. to seize on or make sure of; guarantee: Ability and hard work cinched her success.

Origin of cinch

1
An Americanism first recorded in 1855–60; from Spanish cincha, from Latin cingula “girth,” from cing(ere) “to gird” + -ula -ule

Other definitions for cinch (2 of 2)

cinch2
[ sinch ]

nounCards.
  1. a variety of the game all fours.

Origin of cinch

2
First recorded in 1885–90; perhaps from Spanish cinco “five,” also the name of a card game, from Vulgar Latin cinque (unrecorded), from Latin quinque; see also five

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for cinch (1 of 2)

cinch1

/ (sɪntʃ) /


noun
  1. slang an easy task

  2. slang a certainty

  1. US and Canadian a band around a horse's belly to keep the saddle in position: Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): girth

  2. informal a firm grip

verb
  1. (often foll by up) US and Canadian to fasten a girth around (a horse)

  2. (tr) informal to make sure of

  1. (tr) informal to get a firm grip on

Origin of cinch

1
C19: from Spanish cincha saddle girth, from Latin cingula girdle, from cingere to encircle

British Dictionary definitions for cinch (2 of 2)

cinch2

/ (sɪntʃ) /


noun
  1. a card game in which the five of trumps ranks highest

Origin of cinch

2
C19: probably from cinch 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012