a pinch of
12
1.5
- idiom
:
pizca de
- A tortilla with some beans and a pinch of salt.
- a pinch of salt
- a pinch of pepper
- add a pinch of
Two of those done and a pinch of salt.
- Two of those done and a pinch of salt.
- And you're going to ask me the amount, I'm sure a pinch, a pinch of sea salt.
- Another great thing that works for me like magic almost is a pinch of unprocessed Real Salt under my tongue.
- Another great tip that works for many, many people is to have some Real Salt on hand and put a pinch of salt on your tongue when you're starting to feel hungry.
- Usually they're like almost like Christmas tree ornaments, but just like a like a good tomato with the best olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Examples
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You're meant to put a pinch of salt in your pasta.
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You should sprinkle a pinch of cayenne pepper into the mixture for extra heat.
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We'll use a pinch of sugar
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We're going to add a pinch of salt and a little bit more for good luck.
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All right, now, a pinch of cumin.
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You'll probably want to season the mixture with a pinch of salt and pepper, also.
Blog text (34) -
Season the potatoes as they cook with salt and pepper and maybe a pinch of paprika.
Blog text (27) -
Add the herbs, olives, almonds, green onions, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt, and stir to combine.
Blog text (17) -
For a delicious flavor, add a pinch of salt to the soup.
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To enhance the sweetness, use a pinch of brown sugar on top of the fruit.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A small amount of something
66
2.3
A small amount of something added to improve or change it
33
1.0
A small amount of a spice held between your fingers
18
1.3
A small amount you add to change or improve something else
14
7.9
A very small amount of something
9
7.3
A very small amount, like a tiny bit of salt
A small handful of a dry substance, like a spice
Antonyms
How Much
Surface Forms
Morphology
a + pinch + of
The meaning is directly compositional: 'pinch' already denotes a very small measured quantity and 'of' simply links that quantity to the substance (e.g., salt). This straightforward noun-phrase pattern is common across languages and follows standard English usage, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will understand the MWE.
Etymology
A pinch of comes from cooks who would take a tiny amount of salt or spice between their thumb and finger — they literally pinched it. So it came to mean 'a very small amount'.