pinch

Examples

• All

• The President is already feeling the financial pinch.

  Contact (1997)

• The reason you're getting in a pinch is your cash flow system sucks, right?

• Because, as you can see, I'm in a bit of a pinch.

  Eileen (2023)

• If you're really in a pinch, you can use our van.

  No Hard Feelings (2023)

• Now, obviously this is going to be more appetizing to a baby than myself, but in a pinch, this is survival.

• Comes in really handy in a pinch like this, don't you think?

  Deck the Halls (2006)

• Conventional wisdom says that women are stingier with money because they feel the pinch of the family finances.

  Fiction book (1995)

• I'm in a pinch.

  The Da Vinci Treasure (2006)

• Many families are struggling to make ends meet as they feel the financial pinch from rising prices.

• During the economic downturn, many small businesses found themselves in a serious pinch and had to make tough decisions.

Synonyms

E

emergency

vspinch

∞ 1.3

A sudden dangerous situation that needs quick action

is a difficult trouble that is not always dangerous or life threatening

P

pressure

vspinch

∞ 3.1

A strong feeling of stress from difficult demands

is the difficult condition itself rather than only the demanding cause

C

crisis

vspinch

∞ 3.1

A very dangerous or difficult time when quick decisions are needed

is often a sudden trouble rather than a major turning point

P

predicament

vspinch

81 5.8

A difficult or embarrassing situation that is hard to escape

is often less about being trapped and more about sudden crisis

C

crunch

vspinch

• Informal

45 6.0

A situation when there is not enough time or money

is a general distress not limited to shortages of time or resources

C

clutch

vspinch

32 7.0

A tense moment when someone must act to decide the result

is a broader difficult situation not only a single tense moment

S

squeeze

vspinch

23 5.5

A situation when money problems make it hard to manage things

is broader and can mean a sudden crisis beyond money problems

D

dire straits

vspinch

• Informal

11 7.4

A very difficult situation that causes serious money problems

is less intense and can be sudden rather than extremely severe

E

exigency

vspinch

• Formal

5 9.1

An urgent situation that needs action right away

is a general difficult situation that may not demand instant action

D

desperate straits

vspinch

2 7.4

A situation of very great trouble and urgent need with no easy way out

is similar but can be milder or only temporarily distressing

I

in a tight squeeze

vspinch

• Informal

1 7.2

In a difficult situation with little time or money

is similar but can be sudden crisis rather than prolonged coping difficulty

S

straits

vspinch

7.4

A difficult time when someone has little money or many problems

is often a sudden or brief crisis rather than general hardship

Antonyms

C

comfort

190 1.0

A feeling of physical ease and being free from pain

Idioms

A

a pinch of

12 1.5

A very small amount of salt or spice used in cooking

P

to pinch a loaf

• Offensive

1 9.9

To go to the toilet to poo

A

at a pinch

• UK

7.7

If necessary in a difficult or emergency situation

Compounds

P

pinch hitter

• Jargon

8 6.7

A player who bats in place of another or someone who fills a job for a short time

P

pinch of sugar

1 1.0

A very small amount of sugar you can hold between your thumb and finger

P

pinch bar

• US

1 7.4

A long strong metal tool with a pointed end used to lift heavy things

P

playful pinch

• Informal

3.1

A light squeeze on someone's skin to tease or show affection

How Serious

catastrophe

176 7.0

crisis

∞ 3.1

pinch

• Informal

40 4.5

problem

∞ 1.2

difficulty

651 2.4

inconvenience

107 4.3

Surface Forms

Etymology