Pinch
/pɪntʃ/verb
To press the skin or other soft part of the body between fingers in a way that causes slight pain.
He pinched my arm and it really hurt!
Often appears as...
- pinch someone's cheek
- pinch oneself
noun
A small amount of substance, typically powder or spice, held between the thumb and forefinger.
Add a pinch of salt to the recipe.
Often appears as...
- a pinch of salt
- a pinch of pepper
verb
To steal money or items, particularly in a sneaky way.
Someone pinched my wallet when I wasn't looking.
Often appears as...
- pinch someone's wallet
- pinch a purse
Usage tips
Informal
noun
A difficult or uncomfortable situation often due to lack of resources or funds.
We're in a real pinch; the car broke down and we don't have money to fix it.
Often appears as...
- in a pinch
- feel the pinch
verb
To constrict or become narrower at a certain point.
I hate it when my shoes pinch my toes.
Often appears as...
- shoes pinch
- clothes pinch
verb
To press the skin or other soft part of the body between fingers in a way that causes slight pain.
He pinched my arm and it really hurt!
Often appears as...
- pinch someone's cheek
- pinch oneself
noun
A small amount of substance, typically powder or spice, held between the thumb and forefinger.
Add a pinch of salt to the recipe.
Often appears as...
- a pinch of salt
- a pinch of pepper
verb
To steal money or items, particularly in a sneaky way.
Someone pinched my wallet when I wasn't looking.
Often appears as...
- pinch someone's wallet
- pinch a purse
Usage tips
Informal
noun
A difficult or uncomfortable situation often due to lack of resources or funds.
We're in a real pinch; the car broke down and we don't have money to fix it.
Often appears as...
- in a pinch
- feel the pinch
verb
To constrict or become narrower at a certain point.
I hate it when my shoes pinch my toes.
Often appears as...
- shoes pinch
- clothes pinch
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Interaction
Used when someone lightly hurts another, often playfully or to get attention.
She pinched him to stop his snoring.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Serious Hurt
The pain caused is minor and temporary, not meant to cause real harm.
Don't cry, it was just a little pinch!
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
Can express a small degree of emotional hurt or discomfort.
His sharp words pinched her heart.
Compare with
bitedabdashdropfleckgrainhintjot
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Video examples
Out of Your Depth PIPE...
the most important tools in your visual toolbox to illustrate just how useful it is try this simple experiment take two coins preferably of the same size and pinch one in each hand raise your arms at your sides and quickly touch the edges of the two coins together in front
Video examples
A delightful way to...
I was a programmer, but no one knew it. The kids of today, they tap, swipe and pinch their way through the world. But unless we give them tools to build with computers, we are raising only consumers instead of creators. This whole quest led me to this little girl.
Video examples
The case of the missing...
approaching a fixed number, while the perimeter was just getting bigger and bigger, uncontrollably ballooning like an overindulgent birthday clown. After infinity pinches, flimflam, there it Finite area, but infinite perimeter. Now that is a piece of work.
Video examples
Deep Sea Shark Stakeout...
And then a six-gill underneath. And you have to pinch yourself because it's just completely unreal. - That's so cool. - Yeah, absolutely amazing. We're in a special place here. Really are. - Yeah, it's no coincidence that there's so much awesome life here.
Video examples
A Rescue from Euthanasia...
learned over the years is that when you use a broom collar to a very intense dog it doesn't really help it actually frustrates them or pinches him you know it just creates an irritation my suggestion is to use it when there's not so much intensity
Video examples
4 Lessons in Creativity...
Each one was pinched or carved out of a ball of clay, and it was the imperfections that people cherished. Everyday pots like this cup take eight to 10 hours to fire. I just took this out of the kiln last week, and the kiln itself
Video examples
Testosterone Factor PIPE...
testosterone in your body may be equivalent to a pinch of sugar in an Olympic swimming pool and it has these profound effects to understand how it works in humans scientists are looking at the beginning of life
Video examples
On Black Lives Matter,...
the pants low like down here yes yes down here there yes they don't care instead of wearing a belt they don't wear a belt just walking around with a pinch second set it on the
Video examples
Growly Chihuahua PIPE...
pinch bark is a very nervous part and that comes from a dog that is stimulated by eyes or a stimulator influenced by ears a dog this uses its nose you go
Video examples
Raccoon Vs Rock Crab PIPE...
And what could be better than a red rock crab? That is, if it weren't for the risk of a painful pinch.
Video examples
Out of Your Depth PIPE...
the most important tools in your visual toolbox to illustrate just how useful it is try this simple experiment take two coins preferably of the same size and pinch one in each hand raise your arms at your sides and quickly touch the edges of the two coins together in front
Video examples
A delightful way to...
I was a programmer, but no one knew it. The kids of today, they tap, swipe and pinch their way through the world. But unless we give them tools to build with computers, we are raising only consumers instead of creators. This whole quest led me to this little girl.
Video examples
The case of the missing...
approaching a fixed number, while the perimeter was just getting bigger and bigger, uncontrollably ballooning like an overindulgent birthday clown. After infinity pinches, flimflam, there it Finite area, but infinite perimeter. Now that is a piece of work.
Video examples
Deep Sea Shark Stakeout...
And then a six-gill underneath. And you have to pinch yourself because it's just completely unreal. - That's so cool. - Yeah, absolutely amazing. We're in a special place here. Really are. - Yeah, it's no coincidence that there's so much awesome life here.
Video examples
A Rescue from Euthanasia...
learned over the years is that when you use a broom collar to a very intense dog it doesn't really help it actually frustrates them or pinches him you know it just creates an irritation my suggestion is to use it when there's not so much intensity
Video examples
4 Lessons in Creativity...
Each one was pinched or carved out of a ball of clay, and it was the imperfections that people cherished. Everyday pots like this cup take eight to 10 hours to fire. I just took this out of the kiln last week, and the kiln itself
Video examples
Testosterone Factor PIPE...
testosterone in your body may be equivalent to a pinch of sugar in an Olympic swimming pool and it has these profound effects to understand how it works in humans scientists are looking at the beginning of life
Video examples
On Black Lives Matter,...
the pants low like down here yes yes down here there yes they don't care instead of wearing a belt they don't wear a belt just walking around with a pinch second set it on the
Video examples
Growly Chihuahua PIPE...
pinch bark is a very nervous part and that comes from a dog that is stimulated by eyes or a stimulator influenced by ears a dog this uses its nose you go
Video examples
Raccoon Vs Rock Crab PIPE...
And what could be better than a red rock crab? That is, if it weren't for the risk of a painful pinch.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jean Chatzky
American Journalist
By working toward a financial objective, you'll start to see the money add up for retirement or the credit card balance go down. But it doesn't have an immediate impact on your day-to-day life, and when it does - like when you're pinching pennies to save more - the immediate impact could feel negative.
Quote examples
Mathew Baynton
English Actor
I always had the desire to perform. If it wasn't my career now, I'd still be doing amateur dramatics. It's just something you love, and when you get paid to do it, you pinch yourself every day.
Quote examples
James Payn
English Novelist
A nobler example, because a less personal one, of the pinch of poverty, is when it prevents the accomplishment of some cherished scheme for the benefit of the human race.
Quote examples
George Eliot
British Author
Mortals are easily tempted to pinch the life out of their neighbour's buzzing glory, and think that such killing is no murder.
Quote examples
Kajol
Indian Actress
If I read in a paper that somebody has said something about me, I'm going to take it with a pinch of salt; I really am!
Quote examples
Shura
English Musician
It's just as important - if not more important - to take the praise with a pinch of salt, just as you do the criticism.
Quote examples
Rachel Joyce
British Author
I think I'm somebody who takes praise with a very big - probably too big - pinch of salt.
Quote examples
Bo Bennett
American Businessman
Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity.
Quote examples
Orlando Bloom
English Actor
I pinch myself daily at the good fortune of my life, you know, in many ways.
Quote examples
Dennis Farina
American Actor
Sometimes I do pinch myself about the life I've had.
Quote examples
Jean Chatzky
American Journalist
By working toward a financial objective, you'll start to see the money add up for retirement or the credit card balance go down. But it doesn't have an immediate impact on your day-to-day life, and when it does - like when you're pinching pennies to save more - the immediate impact could feel negative.
Quote examples
Mathew Baynton
English Actor
I always had the desire to perform. If it wasn't my career now, I'd still be doing amateur dramatics. It's just something you love, and when you get paid to do it, you pinch yourself every day.
Quote examples
James Payn
English Novelist
A nobler example, because a less personal one, of the pinch of poverty, is when it prevents the accomplishment of some cherished scheme for the benefit of the human race.
Quote examples
George Eliot
British Author
Mortals are easily tempted to pinch the life out of their neighbour's buzzing glory, and think that such killing is no murder.
Quote examples
Kajol
Indian Actress
If I read in a paper that somebody has said something about me, I'm going to take it with a pinch of salt; I really am!
Quote examples
Shura
English Musician
It's just as important - if not more important - to take the praise with a pinch of salt, just as you do the criticism.
Quote examples
Rachel Joyce
British Author
I think I'm somebody who takes praise with a very big - probably too big - pinch of salt.
Quote examples
Bo Bennett
American Businessman
Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity.
Quote examples
Orlando Bloom
English Actor
I pinch myself daily at the good fortune of my life, you know, in many ways.
Quote examples
Dennis Farina
American Actor
Sometimes I do pinch myself about the life I've had.
Example 1 of 10
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