pinch

[ pinch ]

/ pɪntʃ /

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 to 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)

OTHER WORDS FROM pinch

pinch·a·ble, adjective un·pinched, adjective

Words nearby pinch

pincement, pincer movement, pincer nail, pincers, pincers movement, pinch, pinch bar, pinch effect, pinch graft, pinch hit, pinch hitter

British Dictionary definitions for pinch pennies

pinch

/ (pɪntʃ) /

verb

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

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

(tr) to cause stinging pain to the 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; emergency if it comes to the pinch we'll have to manage

the pinch sharp, painful, or extreme stress, need, etc feeling 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

Idioms and Phrases with pinch pennies (1 of 2)

pinch pennies

Be thrifty or miserly, as in There's no need to pinch pennies now that you're working full-time. This term was first recorded in 1942.

Idioms and Phrases with pinch pennies (2 of 2)

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

pinch

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Idioms for pinch

Origin of pinch

OTHER WORDS FROM pinch

Words nearby pinch

British Dictionary definitions for pinch pennies

verb

noun

Word Origin for pinch

Idioms and Phrases with pinch pennies (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with pinch pennies (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

pinch

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Idioms for pinch

Origin of pinch

OTHER WORDS FROM pinch

Words nearby pinch

Words related to pinch pennies

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for pinch pennies

verb

noun

Word Origin for pinch

Idioms and Phrases with pinch pennies (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with pinch pennies (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for pinch pennies