pinch

[ pinch ]

/ pɪntʃ /

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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.

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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

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

How to use pinch in a sentence

Before the move to Fresno, players could drive from Syracuse to Washington in a pinch.
Nationals have a new Class AAA affiliate in Rochester Red Wings|Jesse Dougherty|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
The Washingtons regularly rotated people back to Virginia or, in a pinch, over the border to New Jersey — a slave state — to reset their time in the capital before six months were up.
George Washington’s 1795 Thanksgiving celebrated liberty. But the chef behind the feast had none.|Ramin Ganeshram|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of salt, and roast for 30 minutes or until golden and soft.
Ease into Winter with Backcountry-Approved Comfort Food|Christina Bernstein|November 12, 2020|Outside Online
Each vendor’s particular snail broth recipe is strictly guarded, with a pinch of this or that to set each seller apart.
Five Must-Try Dishes in Casablanca, Morocco|Amanda Ponzio-Mouttaki|November 11, 2020|Eater

If you prefer spicy kick, add a pinch more cayenne or mince a seeded jalapeño and stir it into the mixture before baking.
This sheet-pan cornbread dressing has even more of the crispy, crunchy bits we love|Ann Maloney|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
Her novels typically evoke this pinched sense of an era—raw individuals in raw times.
Sarah Waters: Queen of the Tortured Lesbian Romance|Tim Teeman|September 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At one Broadway premiere I was sent to cover, I interviewed Elaine Stritch, who called me adorable and then pinched my butt.
Elaine Stritch Pinched My Butt and Changed My Life|Kevin Fallon|July 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Drake sold all 187 head of cattle two years ago, pinched by regulated milk prices and the rising costs of independent farming.
How the Kings of Fracking Double-Crossed Their Way to Riches|ProPublica|March 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, he confessed he feared his incontinence, caused by an untreated pinched nerve in his back, would keep him from finding love.
The Party Monster Lives For the Applause: Michael Alig’s Second Act|Caitlin Dickson|February 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In an era in which discretionary spending is pinched, most retailers would kill to have this kind of growth.
Wall Street Sours on Lululemon’s Growth|Daniel Gross|September 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The waist, now less pinched in at the middle, looked longer without being really so.
Antonio Stradivari|Horace William Petherick
As the tube is removed, it should be pinched between the fingers so as to save any fluid that may be in it.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Buchan's force, however, was continuously obtaining additions, while Bruce was getting pinched with hunger.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
"Well, I think——" commenced Jack, and then broke off short, and at the same time pinched Fred's arm.
The Mystery at Putnam Hall|Arthur M. Winfield
Her face was drawn and pinched, her sweet blue eyes haggard and unnatural.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin

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 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