pinch

[ pinch ]

/ pɪntʃ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: pinch / pinched / pinching on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to squeeze or compress between the finger and thumb, the teeth, the jaws of an instrument, or the like.

to constrict or squeeze painfully, as a tight shoe does.

to cramp within narrow bounds or quarters: The crowd pinched him into a corner.

to render (the face, body, etc.) unnaturally constricted or drawn, as pain or distress does: Years of hardship had pinched her countenance beyond recognition.

to affect with sharp discomfort or distress, as cold, hunger, or need does.

to straiten in means or circumstances: The depression pinched them.

to stint (a person, family, etc.) in allowance of money, food, or the like: They were severely pinched by the drought.

to hamper or inconvenience by the lack of something specified: The builders were pinched by the shortage of good lumber.

to stint the supply or amount of (a thing).

to put a pinch or small quantity of (a powder, spice, etc.) into something.

to roll or slide (a heavy object) with leverage from a pinch bar.

Slang.

to steal.
to arrest.

Digital Technology. to move two or more fingers toward or away from each other on (a touchscreen) in order to execute a command (often followed by in or out): Zoom in by pinching the screen.

Horticulture. to remove or shorten (buds or shoots) in order to produce a certain shape of the plant, improve the quality of the bloom or fruit, or increase the development of buds (often followed by out, off, or back).

Nautical. to sail (a ship) so close into the wind that the sails shake slightly and the speed is reduced.

Horse Racing, British. to press (a horse) to the point of exhaustion.

verb (used without object)

to exert a sharp or painful constricting force: This shoe pinches.

to cause sharp discomfort or distress: Their stomachs were pinched with hunger.

to economize unduly; stint oneself: They pinched and scraped for years to save money for a car.

Digital Technology. to move the fingers toward or away from each other on a touchscreen (often followed by in or out): Pinching in will zoom in, and pinching out will zoom out.

Mining. (of a vein of ore or the like)

to diminish.
to diminish to nothing (sometimes followed by out).

Nautical. to trim a sail too flat when sailing to windward.

noun

the act of pinching; nip; squeeze.

as much of anything as can be taken up between the finger and thumb: a pinch of salt.

a very small quantity of anything: a pinch of pungent wit.

sharp or painful stress, as of hunger, need, or any trying circumstances: the pinch of conscience; to feel the pinch of poverty.

a situation or time of special stress, especially an emergency: A friend is someone who will stand by you in a pinch.

pinch bar.

Slang. a raid or an arrest.

Slang. a theft.

Digital Technology. an act or instance of pinching a touchscreen.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about pinch

pinch pennies, to stint on or be frugal or economical with expenditures; economize: I'll have to pinch pennies if I'm going to get through school.

with a pinch of salt. salt¹ (def. 24). Also with a grain of salt .

Origin of pinch

1250–1300; Middle English pinchen<Anglo-French *pinchier (equivalent to Old French pincier,Spanish pinchar) <Vulgar Latin *pīnctiāre, variant of *pūnctiāre to prick (cf. pique¹)

OTHER WORDS FROM pinch

pinch·a·ble, adjectiveun·pinched, adjective

Words nearby pinch

pin boy, pince-nez, pincer movement, pincers, pincers movement, pinch, Pinchback, pinch bar, pinchbeck, pinchbottle, pinchcock

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pinch in a sentence

Turner rarely sits, and Castro, Kieboom and Harrison could all spell him in a pinch.
Gerardo Parra gets a minor league deal and spring training invite with the Nationals|Jesse Dougherty|February 3, 2021|Washington Post
Ekstra Bladet, Denmark’s biggest news site with 500 million page views per month, reached this pinch point three weeks ago.
‘We had to take full ownership of data’: Why Denmark’s biggest news site cut reliance on Google’s tech|Seb Joseph|January 27, 2021|Digiday
It doesn’t filter out sediment, but it’s a good choice when you’re in a pinch or in an area where water may not be the most sanitary.
The Gear I Carry as a Female Road-Tripper|Alex Temblador|January 24, 2021|Outside Online
In a medium pot, combine the celery root and a generous pinch of salt, and add enough water to cover.
Mashed celery root shines in this bright vegan side dish|Aaron Hutcherson|January 20, 2021|Washington Post

The fact that so many of the small businesses that are hurting are women-owned, are minority-owned and are feeling the pinch first.
How Apple Is Spending the $100 Million It Pledged To Racial Equity|Charli Penn|January 15, 2021|Essence.com
Pinch it with your fingers until it makes large crumbles and distribute it on the berries (it will not cover them entirely).
The Barefoot Contessa Knows How To Make Us Crumble|Ina Garten|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Air refueling and airlift assets were the literal pinch I am describing here,” the official said.
First U.S. Stealth Jet Attack on Syria Cost More Than Indian Mission to Mars|Dave Majumdar|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“As much as I want to complain, I have to pinch myself that this is happening,” she said.
Dumps and Death Threats, Hecklers and Vindication: True Tales from Today’s DIY Book Tour|Bill Morris|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He packed a large pinch of the snuff against his bottom gum.
Short Stories from The Daily Beast: Four Hundred Grand|Elliot Ackerman|July 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Picture a slightly younger Alice with a pinch more physical humor in an office.
Ann B. Davis Was the Zesty Antidote to the Bradys|Emily Shire|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Here are pretty goings on—a pinch of your snuff, Perker, my boy—never were such times, eh?
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
That first 'pinch' was its own priceless reward, far above present appreciation or future fame.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Both the twain were very bare and scant of the goods of this world, and even then were feeling bitterly the pinch of hunger.
The Merrie Tales Of Jacques Tournebroche|Anatole France
He observed Tommy Bray take a pinch of salt, and then ask for a cup of tea, though he had a basin of bread-and-milk before him.
Digby Heathcote|W.H.G. Kingston
Furthermore, thar oughter be somebody detailed to shute the women folks when it comes to the last pinch.
Overland|John William De Forest

British Dictionary definitions for pinch

pinch

/ (pɪntʃ) /

verb

to press (something, esp flesh) tightly between two surfaces, esp between a finger and the thumbSee nip 1

to confine, squeeze, or painfully press (toes, fingers, etc) because of lack of spacethese shoes pinch

(tr) to cause stinging pain tothe cold pinched his face

(tr) to make thin or drawn-looking, as from grief, lack of food, etc

(usually foll by on) to provide (oneself or another person) with meagre allowances, amounts, etc

pinch pennies to live frugally because of meanness or to economize

(tr) nautical to sail (a sailing vessel) so close to the wind that her sails begin to luff and she loses way

(intr sometimes foll by out) (of a vein of ore) to narrow or peter out

(usually foll by off, out, or back) to remove the tips of (buds, shoots, etc) to correct or encourage growth

(tr) informal to steal or take without asking

(tr) informal to arrest

noun

a squeeze or sustained nip

the quantity of a substance, such as salt, that can be taken between a thumb and finger

a very small quantity

a critical situation; predicament; emergencyif it comes to the pinch we'll have to manage

the pinch sharp, painful, or extreme stress, need, etcfeeling the pinch of poverty

See pinch bar

slang a robbery

slang a police raid or arrest

at a pinch if absolutely necessary

with a pinch of salt or with a grain of salt without wholly believing; sceptically

Word Origin for pinch

C16: probably from Old Norman French pinchier (unattested); related to Old French pincier to pinch; compare Late Latin punctiāre to prick

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with pinch

pinch

In addition to the idioms beginning with pinch

pinch hitter
pinch pennies

also see:

feel the pinch
in a pinch
with a grain (pinch) of salt

pinch

Idioms about pinch

Origin of pinch

OTHER WORDS FROM pinch

Words nearby pinch

Words related to pinch

How to use pinch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pinch

Word Origin for pinch

Other Idioms and Phrases with pinch