cinch
cinch — noun
- cinchsingular
- cinchesplural
1. a task or activity that requires almost no effort to complete successfully — for
a task or activity that requires almost no effort to complete successfully — for example, passing a simple test or fixing a minor household problem.
Noa had studied all week, so the exam was a cinch.
informal: be a cinch for an easy task
The online form took only two minutes to fill out — it was a cinch.
Beatrix expected the recipe to be hard, but the dumplings were a cinch.
For a trained electrician, fixing that switch was a cinch.
- breeze
even more informal; used in the exact same pattern ("it was a breeze")
- walk in the park
informal idiom; emphasizes effortlessness
- snap
informal American English, less common than 'breeze' or 'cinch'
- doddle
chiefly British English, informal
文法句型
be + a + cinch
prove + a + cinch
用法筆記
Common in informal conversation. Used in the pattern 'it's a cinch' or '[something] is a cinch.' Avoid in formal writing or academic contexts.
常見錯誤
2. a wide band of leather or webbing that goes under a horse's belly to hold a sadd
a wide band of leather or webbing that goes under a horse's belly to hold a saddle firmly in place.
Takeshi checked the cinch before mounting his horse for the trail ride.
domain: horse-riding equipment
The leather cinch had worn thin after years of daily use on the ranch.
The young rider leaned down to tighten the cinch so the saddle would not slip sideways.
A loose cinch can cause the saddle to tilt dangerously when the horse turns quickly.
- girth
the standard term in British English; also used in American English
- saddle strap
a more general descriptive term
用法筆記
Also called a 'girth' in British English. The word 'cinch' for a saddle strap is more common in North American equestrian contexts.
3. something that is absolutely sure to happen or be true — for example, a predicte
something that is absolutely sure to happen or be true — for example, a predicted outcome that no one doubts.
With a twenty-point lead, the victory was a cinch for the home team.
collocation: be a cinch for [outcome]
Brandon told his friends it was a cinch that his band would win the local competition.
pattern: it is a cinch that + clause
Most voters saw the election result as a cinch long before the polls closed.
The new restaurant was so popular that its success seemed a cinch from day one.
- certainty
neutral register, more formal
- foregone conclusion
quite formal, often used in competitive or political contexts
- sure thing
informal, common in everyday American speech
文法句型
be + a + cinch + that-clause
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (VERY EASY): sense 3 emphasizes that something is certain to happen, not necessarily that it is easy to do.
常見錯誤
cinch — verb
- cinchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cinches3rd person singular
- cinching-ing form
- cinchedpast simple
1. to pull a belt, strap, rope, or piece of clothing tightly around something so th
to pull a belt, strap, rope, or piece of clothing tightly around something so that it is held firmly — for example, tightening a belt around your waist or a strap on a suitcase.
Hassan cinched his backpack straps before starting the long hike up the mountain.
transitive: cinch [object]
Reema cinched up her bathrobe after stepping out of the shower.
phrasal: cinch up [object]
The movers cinched a rope around the furniture to keep it steady.
Lucía cinched the drawstring on her gym bag and headed out the door.
Saira cinched the harness tight around the dog's chest before the car ride.
文法句型
cinch + noun
cinch up + noun
cinch + noun + tight
用法筆記
The particle 'up' is common but optional: 'cinch your belt' and 'cinch up your belt' mean the same thing. The object is always something that can be pulled tight (belt, strap, rope, cord).
常見錯誤
2. to make an outcome or result certain to happen — for example, scoring a final go
to make an outcome or result certain to happen — for example, scoring a final goal that guarantees a team's victory.
Beatrix scored the winning goal that cinched the championship for her team.
collocation: cinch [outcome] for [someone]
A strong recommendation from the professor cinched Hassan's place at the university.
That impressive final presentation cinched the promotion for the young manager.
The actress felt that her performance in the last episode would cinch the award nomination.
The new contract cinched the deal, and the two companies merged the following month.
- jeopardize
to put an outcome at risk
- threaten
to make an outcome less certain
文法句型
cinch + noun
cinch + noun + for + someone
用法筆記
Often used in competitive, business, or achievement contexts. The object is typically an abstract outcome (victory, deal, nomination, place) rather than a physical object.