feel the pinch

1. Be affected by hardship, especially straitened finances. For example, This job pays much less, so we're bound to feel the pinch. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

She said the state is “absolutely going to be looking at every way that we can fill the void given our resources, but we are going to feel the pinch of this.”

From Los Angeles Times

And no matter what, our wallets are all going to feel the pinch now that prices have started to demonstrably rise again—thanks to the tariffs already in place.

From Slate

The packaged food industry has faced slowing growth as consumers feel the pinch from years of rising prices.

From BBC

As rates rise, home buyers feel the pinch.

From Los Angeles Times

Fast food chains like McDonald's and Burger King have had to focus on offering more attractive value meals, as lower income customers feel the pinch from surging prices in recent years.

From BBC

Related Words

• call for 
• demand 
• desire 
• lack 
• require