pinch

pinch: [[t]pɪ̱ntʃ[/t]]
pinches, pinching, pinched

1) VERB If you pinch a part of someone's body, you take a piece of their skin between your thumb and first finger and give it a short squeeze.

[V n] She pinched his arm as hard as she could...

[V n] We both kept pinching ourselves to prove that it wasn't all a dream.

N-COUNT

Pinch is also a noun. She gave him a little pinch.

2) N-COUNT: usu N of n A pinch of an ingredient such as salt is the amount of it that you can hold between your thumb and your first finger.

to take something with a pinch of salt → see salt

Put all the ingredients, including a pinch of salt, into a food processor.

...a pinch of nutmeg.

3) VERB To pinch something, especially something of little value, means to steal it. [INFORMAL]

[V n] Do you remember when I pinched your glasses?

[V n] ...pickpockets who pinched his wallet.

Syn:

steal

4) PHRASE: PHR with cl/group If you say that something is possible at a pinch, or in American English if you say that something is possible in a pinch, you mean that it would be possible if it was necessary, but it might not be very comfortable or convenient.

Six people, and more at a pinch, could be seated comfortably at the table.

5) PHRASE: V inflects If a person or company is feeling the pinch, they do not have as much money as they used to, and so they cannot buy the things they would like to buy.

Consumers are spending less and traders are feeling the pinch.

6) PHRASE: oft PHR with cl If you are in a pinch, you are in a difficult situation.

I'd trust her in a pinch...

Everyone knew he was in a pinch.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Synonyms:

Nip, squeeze, compress, gripe, Bear hard, Nip, gripe / Oppress, straiten, distress, afflict, Spare, stint, be niggardly, be parsimonious, be frugal, economize, Gripe, pang, throe / Frost, nip, injure with frost, Emergency, exigency, crisis, strait, difficulty, push, pressure, oppression / Press hard, try thoroughly, Crowbar, iron lever / Small quantity

Look at other dictionaries:

Pinch — may refer to:* Pinch (cooking), a very small amount of an ingredient, typically salt or a spice * Pinch, West VirginiaMathematics and Science* Pinch (plasma physics), the compression of a plasma filament by magnetic forces, or a device which uses … Wikipedia
pinch´er — pinch «pihnch», verb, noun. –v.t. 1. to squeeze between the thumb and forefinger, with the teeth or claws, or with any instrument having two jaws or parts between which something may be grasped: »Father pinched the baby s cheek playfully.… … Useful english dictionary
Pinch — Pinch, n. 1. A close compression, as with the ends of the fingers, or with an instrument; a nip. [1913 Webster] 2. As much as may be taken between the finger and thumb; any very small quantity; as, a pinch of snuff. [1913 Webster] 3. Pian; pang.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pinch — [n1] tight pressing compression, confinement, contraction, cramp, grasp, grasping, hurt, limitation, nip, nipping, pressure, squeeze, torment, tweak, twinge; concept 728 pinch [n2] small amount bit, dash, drop, jot, mite, small quantity, soupçon … New thesaurus
Pinch — Pinch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pinched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pinching}.] [F. pincer, probably fr. OD. pitsen to pinch; akin to G. pfetzen to cut, pinch; perhaps of Celtic origin. Cf. {Piece}.] 1. To press hard or squeeze between the ends of the fingers … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pinch — pinch; pinch·able; pinch·er; pinch·beck; pinch·ing; pinch·ing·ly; … English syllables
pinch — ► VERB 1) grip (the flesh) tightly between finger and thumb. 2) (of a shoe) hurt (a foot) by being too tight. 3) tighten (the lips or a part of the face). 4) informal, chiefly Brit. steal. 5) informal arrest. 6) live in a frugal way … English terms dictionary
pinch — [pinch] vt. [ME pinchen < NormFr * pincher < OFr pincier < VL * pinctiare < ? punctiare, to prick (see PUNCHEON1), infl. by * piccare: see PICADOR] 1. to squeeze between a finger and the thumb or between two surfaces, edges, etc. 2.… … English World dictionary
Pinch — Pinch, v. i. 1. To act with pressing force; to compress; to squeeze; as, the shoe pinches. [1913 Webster] 2. (Hunt.) To take hold; to grip, as a dog does. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 3. To spare; to be niggardly; to be covetous. Gower. [1913 Webster]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Pinch — Pinch, WV U.S. Census Designated Place in West Virginia Population (2000): 2811 Housing Units (2000): 1194 Land area (2000): 3.507567 sq. miles (9.084557 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.037141 sq. miles (0.096194 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.544708… … StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places
Pinch, WV — U.S. Census Designated Place in West Virginia Population (2000): 2811 Housing Units (2000): 1194 Land area (2000): 3.507567 sq. miles (9.084557 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.037141 sq. miles (0.096194 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.544708 sq. miles… … StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

pinch

Look at other dictionaries:

Share the article and excerpts

Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

English dictionary

pinch

Look at other dictionaries:

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link