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pinch
pinch (one) off
vulgar slang To defecate, especially quickly. Give me a minute, I just need to go pinch one off and then I'll be ready to leave.
pinch and scrape
To spend as little money as possible; to be very frugal or tight, especially with the aim of saving up for something bigger. Ever since we had our second child, we've had to pinch and scrape to make sure they both get what they want for Christmas.
where the shoe pinches
Where trouble or stress originates. I hate to say it, but I think this new project is where the shoe pinches—it's just taking too much of our time with too little payoff.
at a pinch
Said of a challenging, but potentially workable, situation. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Sir, I think we can get you on that flight at a pinch, as long as you don't mind waiting around.
feel pinched
and feel the pinchFig. experiencing hardship because of having too little money. The Smiths used to go abroad every year, but now that he's retired, they're really feeling pinched. You're bound to feel the pinch a little when you're a student.
in a pinch
as a substitute. A piece of clothing can be used as a bandage in a pinch. In a pinch, you can use folded paper to prop up the table leg so the table won't rock.
pinch someone for something
Sl. to arrest someone for something. The cops pinched Max for driving without a license. Max was pinched for speeding.
pinch something back
to pinch off a bit of the top of a plant so it will branch and grow more fully. You should pinch this back so it will branch. Pinch back the new leaves at the top.
pinch something from someone or something
Sl. to steal something from someone or something. Sam pinched an apple from the produce stand. We saw a pickpocket pinch a wallet from an old man.
pinch something off (of) something
and pinch something offto sever something from something by pinching. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Pinch the buds off the lower branches so the one at the top will bloom. Pinch off the lower buds.
pinch-hit for someone
1. Fig. to bat for someone else in a baseball game. Wally Wilson will pinch-hit for Gary Franklin. Rodney Jones is pinch-hitting for Babe DiMaggio.
2. Fig. to substitute for someone in any situation. Bart will pinch-hit for Fred, who is at another meeting today. Who will pinch-hit for me while I am on vacation?
scrimp and save
and pinch and scrapeto be very thrifty; to live on very little money, often in order to save up for something. We had to scrimp and save in order to send the children to college. The Smiths pinched and scraped all year in order to go on a Caribbean cruise.
take something with a pinch of salt
and take something with a grain of sltFig. to listen to a story or an explanation with considerable doubt. You must take anything she says with a grain of salt. She doesn't always tell the truth. They took my explanation with a pinch of salt. I was sure they didn't believe me.
feel the pinch
to experience the effect of having less money Consumers have felt the pinch of higher gasoline prices.
in a pinch
if necessary You should use lime juice, but in a pinch lemon is all right.
feel the pinch
to have problems with money because you are earning less than before When my father lost his job and we had to live on my mother's earnings, we really started to feel the pinch.
at a pinch
(British & Australian) also in a pinch (American) if something can be done at a pinch, it is possible in an urgent situation but it is difficult Will's car can take four people comfortably, five at a pinch.
See feel the pinch, take with a pinch of saltpinch-hit
(American) to do something for someone because they are suddenly unable to do it (often + for ) He was pinch-hitting for one of the regular TV sportscasters, and was a great success.
take something with a pinch of salt
(British & Australian) also take something with a grain of salt (American & Australian) if you take what someone says with a pinch of salt, you do not completely believe it You have to take everything she says with a pinch of salt. She has a tendency to exaggerate. It's interesting to read the reports in the newspapers, but I tend to take them with a grain of salt.
See rub salt in the woundscrimp and save
to spend very little money, especially because you are saving it to buy something expensive (often + to do sth) We had to scrimp and save to buy our first house.
feel the pinch
Be affected by hardship, especially straitened finances. For example, This job pays much less, so we're bound to feel the pinch. [Mid-1800s]
in a pinch
In an emergency, when hard-pressed, as in This music isn't what I would have chosen, but it will do in a pinch. This term dates from the late 1400s, when it was put as at a pinch (a usage still current in Britain); pinch alludes to straitened circumstances.
pinch hitter
A substitute for another person, especially in an emergency. For example, Pat expected her mother to help with the baby, but just in case, she lined up her mother-in-law as pinch hitter . This expression comes from baseball, where it is used for a player substituting for another at bat at a critical point or in a tight situation (called a pinch since the late 1400s). [Late 1800s]
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.
scrimp and save
Economize severely, spend as little as possible, as in For years we had to scrimp and save, but now we can enjoy life more. [Mid-1800s]
with a grain of salt
Also, with a pinch of salt. Skeptically, with reservations. For example, I always take Sandy's stories about illnesses with a grain of salt-she tends to exaggerate. This expression is a translation of the Latin cum grano salis, which Pliny used in describing Pompey's discovery of an antidote for poison (to be taken with a grain of salt). It was soon adopted by English writers.
pinch
1. n. a small amount of a powdered substance, such as salt, snuff, a spice, etc. (Not slang.) He put a pinch under his lips and walked up to home plate.
2. tv. to arrest someone. The police captain pinched her for passing bad checks.
3. n. the arrest of someone. They made the pinch in front of her house.
4. tv. to steal something. (see also
cop.)
The kid pinched a candy bar right off the counter. pinch hitter
1. n. a substitute batter in the game of baseball. Sam is a pinch hitter for Ralph, who broke his wrist.
2. n. any substitute person. In school today we had a pinch hitter. Our teacher was sick.
pinched
mod. arrested. (see also
cop,
pinch.)
Sam got pinched for a parole violation. with a grain of salt
With reservations; skeptically: Take that advice with a grain of salt.
pinch pennies
Informal To be thrifty or miserly.