pinch
pinch — verb
1. to grip a small bit of skin or other material between your thumb and a finger an
to grip a small bit of skin or other material between your thumb and a finger and squeeze it tightly, often hard enough to hurt.
Maya pinched her little brother's arm under the table when he started giggling.
pinch + body part of another person
Grandpa Lin gently pinched my cheek and called me his little tomato.
affectionate pinch + cheek
Pinch the edges of the dough together so the filling does not leak out.
Carlos pinched his nose shut before jumping into the cold pool.
Be careful not to pinch your finger when you close the metal toolbox.
文法句型
pinch + body part
pinch + object
用法筆記
Object is usually a small piece of skin, cloth, or material; the action is brief and uses only the thumb plus one finger, unlike 'grip' or 'grab' which can involve the whole hand.
常見錯誤
2. to squeeze your own skin as a way of testing whether something amazing or strang
to squeeze your own skin as a way of testing whether something amazing or strange is really happening rather than a dream.
When Lina won the lottery, she had to pinch herself to believe it was real.
pinch oneself + to believe it was real
Standing on the Eiffel Tower, Marcus kept pinching himself.
kept pinching oneself for ongoing disbelief
I had to pinch myself when I saw my book on the shop window.
Rosa pinched herself to make sure the wedding was not a dream.
- rub one's eyes
similar idiom of checking unbelievable sights
文法句型
pinch oneself
用法筆記
Almost always reflexive ('pinch yourself / myself / herself') and used to express disbelief at something wonderful or unbelievable. Distinguish from sense 1: the literal squeezing here is not the point — the point is the speaker's amazement.
常見錯誤
3. to take something that belongs to another person without permission, especially
to take something that belongs to another person without permission, especially something small or not very expensive.
Some kid pinched my umbrella from the café while I was paying the bill.
pinch + object + from + place
Marcus pinched a few chips off his sister's plate when she looked away.
pinch + small food item + off + plate
Who pinched my pen? I left it on the desk five minutes ago.
The kids had pinched apples from the neighbour's garden again.
- return
give back what was taken
文法句型
pinch + object
pinch + object + from + place/person
用法筆記
Mainly British informal. Used for petty, low-stakes theft — small items, snacks, office supplies — not serious crime. For serious or larger theft, use 'steal'.
常見錯誤
4. (of a shoe, collar, or similar tight clothing) to press uncomfortably on a part
(of a shoe, collar, or similar tight clothing) to press uncomfortably on a part of the body, causing soreness.
These new shoes pinch my toes whenever I walk uphill.
shoe + pinches + body part
Sarah's wool collar pinched her neck all through the long ceremony.
clothing + pinched + body part
My boots are starting to pinch a little after this long hike.
The waistband on these jeans pinches when I sit down.
- fit
be the right size and feel comfortable
文法句型
[clothing/shoe] + pinches
[shoe] + pinches + body part
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a shoe, boot, collar, belt, or other piece of clothing that fits too tightly. Often appears without an object ('these shoes pinch'). Distinguish from sense 1, where a person is doing the pinching.
常見錯誤
5. to put a person, household, or company under heavy money pressure by costing far
to put a person, household, or company under heavy money pressure by costing far above what their budget allows.
Rising fuel prices are pinching small farms across the valley.
rising prices + pinching + group
The new rent will pinch our family budget badly this winter.
the new X will pinch + budget
Higher taxes are starting to pinch retired couples on fixed incomes.
The factory closure pinched the whole town for years.
- ease
make a financial situation lighter
文法句型
pinch + person/organisation
用法筆記
Subject is usually a cost, price, tax, or economic event; object is the person, family, or business under pressure. Closely related to the noun 'feel the pinch'. Distinguish from sense 4: that one is physical (shoes), this one is financial.
常見錯誤
pinch — noun
1. the tiny quantity of a powder or similar substance that you can pick up between
the tiny quantity of a powder or similar substance that you can pick up between your thumb and one finger; by extension, any very small amount.
Add a pinch of salt to the boiling water before the pasta goes in.
a pinch of + salt (cooking)
Lina sprinkled a pinch of cinnamon over the warm apple slices.
a pinch of + spice
The recipe calls for two pinches of dried chilli flakes.
Chef Marco added just a pinch of saffron to the steaming pot of rice.
- heap
a large piled-up amount
文法句型
a pinch of + uncountable noun
用法筆記
Almost always in the pattern 'a pinch of + uncountable noun'. Common with cooking ingredients (salt, pepper, sugar, spices) but also figurative ('a pinch of humour', 'a pinch of luck').
常見錯誤
2. a single act of gripping someone's skin or a small thing tightly between thumb a
a single act of gripping someone's skin or a small thing tightly between thumb and finger.
Aunt Rosa gave the baby a gentle pinch on the cheek and laughed.
give + body part + a pinch
A sharp pinch on his arm reminded Marcus to stop slouching.
a sharp pinch on + body part
One quick pinch and the candle wick went out.
The nurse felt a tiny pinch as the needle entered her skin.
文法句型
give someone a pinch
a pinch on + body part
用法筆記
Often modified by 'gentle / sharp / quick / little / playful' to describe how the squeeze feels. Frequent in the structure 'give someone a pinch'. Distinct from sense 1 — that is a quantity, this is an action.
常見錯誤
3. a difficult period of pressure, money shortage, or sudden crisis when resources
a difficult period of pressure, money shortage, or sudden crisis when resources or time are very limited.
Many young families are starting to feel the pinch as rents keep rising.
feel + the pinch (financial)
When the harvest failed, the village faced a real pinch all winter.
face + a pinch (hardship period)
The team's old goalkeeper has saved them in a pinch many times.
Small shops along the high street are clearly in a pinch this year.
- ease
a comfortable, relaxed period
文法句型
the pinch
a pinch (= emergency)
用法筆記
Most often in fixed phrases: 'feel the pinch' (suffer money pressure), 'in a pinch' / 'at a pinch' (in an emergency or as a backup). Rarely used outside these patterns in modern English.