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.
Idioms for 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)
If you don’t have a mirror, other reflective surfaces—such as a stainless-steel plate or, to a lesser extent, the screen of your smartphone or handheld GPS device—can be used in a pinch.
A signal mirror could save your life in the wild—here’s how to use one|By Jim Baird/Field & Stream|October 14, 2020|Popular Science
Not exactly the most high-tech or most ideal method, but it should hopefully work in a pinch.
You can now return Apple’s Solo Loop for a new size, without sending back the Watch|Brian Heater|September 24, 2020|TechCrunch
Salt your spiritSalting a key cocktail component, such as a liqueur, is certainly more labor-intensive than using a saline solution or adding a pinch of salt, but the technique both reimagines the ingredient and allows for more control when mixing.
Why you should be adding salt to your cocktails|By Céline Bossart/Saveur|September 4, 2020|Popular Science
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
“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
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
A pinch hitter named Pickle Smith was announced for Jacksonville.
The Great Paul Hemphill Celebrates the Long Gone Birmingham Barons|Paul Hemphill|March 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And what better way to rally the troops (and they're all troops, in a pinch) than by pointing out the enormity of the enemy?
North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un’s Game of Thrones|Kevin Bleyer|December 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Madam Wetherill was very generous with her outfit, though she began to feel the pinch of straitened means.
A Little Girl in Old Philadelphia|Amanda Minnie Douglas
People that you and I will never know, will know of this, and it will help them--when their pinch comes.
V. V.'s Eyes|Henry Sydnor Harrison
The Seigneur took a pinch of snuff, and the Cure, whose mind was benevolent, listened with the gravest interest.
The Right of Way, Complete|Gilbert Parker
He had taken a leaf of the raw tobacco and adding a pinch for filler was trying to twist the spill.
Where the Pavement Ends|John Russell
But I tell thee again, thy father shall not portion an idler like thyself and pinch his trade.
Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 2 (of 2)|John Roby
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 penniesto live frugally because of meanness or to economize
(tr)nauticalto 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)informalto steal or take without asking
(tr)informalto 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 pinchsharp, painful, or extreme stress, need, etcfeeling the pinch of poverty
See pinch bar
slanga robbery
slanga police raid or arrest
at a pinchif absolutely necessary
with a pinch of saltorwith a grain of saltwithout 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