in a pinch

Idioms  

1. In an emergency, when hard-pressed, as in This music isn't what I would have chosen, but it will do in a pinch. This term dates from the late 1400s, when it was put as at a pinch (a usage still current in Britain); pinch alludes to straitened circumstances.

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Example Sentences

Potential beneficiaries of this crunch could be coal companies in South Africa, Australia, and Indonesia that Asian economies may turn to in a pinch.

From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026

From what you say, you could, in theory, use your 50% share and a portion of your $500,000 liquid savings, if you were in a pinch, so try to put those bad dreams to bed.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 12, 2026

The new kickoff rule is giving teams better field position, shortening the field for offenses that need to score in a pinch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025

Pure wild rice is best for this dish, but in a pinch, you can certainly use a mix.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2025

It was all right for some of them to be expelled; in a pinch, they could go off to a boarding school.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee