pinch

[pinch]

verb (used with object)

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

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

3. to cramp within narrow bounds or quarters.

   The crowd pinched him into a corner.

4. to render (the face, body, etc.) unnaturally constricted or drawn, as pain or distress does.

   Years of hardship had pinched her countenance beyond recognition.

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

6. to straiten in means or circumstances.

   The depression pinched them.

7. to stint (a person, family, etc.) in allowance of money, food, or the like.

   They were severely pinched by the drought.

8. to hamper or inconvenience by the lack of something specified.

   The builders were pinched by the shortage of good lumber.

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

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

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

12. Slang.

    1. to steal.

    2. to arrest.

13. 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 orout ).

    Zoom in by pinching the screen.

14. 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, orback ).

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

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

verb (used without object)

1. to exert a sharp or painful constricting force.

   This shoe pinches.

2. to cause sharp discomfort or distress.

   Their stomachs were pinched with hunger.

3. to economize unduly; stint oneself.

   They pinched and scraped for years to save money for a car.

4. Digital Technology.,  to move the fingers toward or away from each other on a touchscreen (often followed by in orout ).

   Pinching in will zoom in, and pinching out will zoom out.

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

   1. to diminish.

   2. to diminish to nothing (sometimes followed byout ).

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

noun

1. the act of pinching; nip; squeeze.

2. as much of anything as can be taken up between the finger and thumb.

   a pinch of salt.

3. a very small quantity of anything.

   a pinch of pungent wit.

4. sharp or painful stress, as of hunger, need, or any trying circumstances.

   the pinch of conscience; to feel the pinch of poverty.

5. a situation or time of special stress, especially an emergency.

   A friend is someone who will stand by you in a pinch.

6. pinch bar.

7. Slang.,  a raid or an arrest.

8. Slang.,  a theft.

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

pinch

/ pɪntʃ /

verb

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

2. to confine, squeeze, or painfully press (toes, fingers, etc) because of lack of space

   these shoes pinch

3. (tr) to cause stinging pain to

   the cold pinched his face

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

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

6. to live frugally because of meanness or to economize

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

8. (of a vein of ore) to narrow or peter out

9. to remove the tips of (buds, shoots, etc) to correct or encourage growth

10. informal,  (tr) to steal or take without asking

11. informal,  (tr) to arrest

noun

1. a squeeze or sustained nip

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

3. a very small quantity

4. a critical situation; predicament; emergency

   if it comes to the pinch we'll have to manage

5. sharp, painful, or extreme stress, need, etc

   feeling the pinch of poverty

6. See pinch bar

7. slang,  a robbery

8. slang,  a police raid or arrest

9. if absolutely necessary

10. without wholly believing; sceptically

Other Word Forms

• pinchable adjective
• unpinched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pinch¹

1250–1300; Middle English pinchen < Anglo-French *pinchier (equivalent to Old French pincier, Spanish pinchar ) < Vulgar Latin *pīnctiāre, variant of *pūnctiāre to prick ( pique ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of pinch¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. with a pinch of salt. salt. Also with a grain of salt

2. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing pinch

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

Example Sentences

“Just sort of one of those pinch me-moments, like, ‘Is this really happening?’”

From Los Angeles Times

Mum, Nikki, from Guernsey, said the cost of living and specific school uniform requirements for children, James, 10, Henry, 11, Grace, 14, and Olivia, 16, had meant they felt the financial pinch this year.

From BBC

Miguel Rojas, an infielder, was deployed as a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth inning and remained in the game at shortstop.

From Los Angeles Times

There's a strong chance I'll be wrong again, wouldn't be the first time, but I'm going to revert back to last season's technique and say City will pinch this.

From BBC

The storyline will surely resonate among those saddled with their own college debt or just feeling pinched by rising costs at the grocery store.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cramp 
• crush 
• hurt 
• squeeze 
• tweak