cinch

¹ American  

[sinch] / sɪntʃ /

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.

3. Informal.

   1. something sure or easy.

      This problem is a cinch.

   2. 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.

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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.

cinch ² American  

[sinch] / sɪntʃ /

noun

Cards.

1. a variety of the game all fours.

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cinch ¹ British  

/ sɪntʃ /

noun

1. slang an easy task

2. slang a certainty

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

4. informal a firm grip

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verb

1. (often foll by up) to fasten a girth around (a horse)

2. informal (tr) to make sure of

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

cinch ² British  

/ sɪntʃ /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of cinch¹

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

Origin of cinch²

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 ( def. )

Explanation

Something that's a cinch is incredibly easy. It's a cinch to eat a meticulously decorated cake — it's much more complicated to bake and frost one. Cinch is one of those words with many meanings that seem unrelated at first glance. The original 19th-century North American definition, which is still used today, is "saddle girth," the straps that keep a horse's saddle in place. As a verb, cinch means "to pull tight," the way you'd cinch a belt. Informally, to cinch is to make absolutely certain: "It'll cinch her college decision if that school offers a scholarship."

Example Sentences

“They just use it as a mechanism for getting rid of difficult-to-prosecute cases, cases that weren’t a lead-pipe cinch to get a conviction,” said Gary Kleck, professor emeritus of criminology at Florida State University.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 16, 2025

Getting around this city is a cinch since Columbia is known for its efficient public transportation options.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 29, 2025

She launches into how she likes to style her brown snakeskin Chloé Silverado bag — with “one of those skirts that you can cinch and pull up a bit” and “gladiator sandals.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2025

After all, Harris is not just a woman running for president, but she’s the first woman of color to cinch the Democratic nomination.

From Slate • Jul. 21, 2024

They could have Cordelia and me in here, in our bat-wing sleeves and cinch belts, stuffed and mounted or made of wax, drinking our milkshakes, looking as bored as we could.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

• cakewalk
• piece of cake