Search results for 'pinch':

pinch verb (pinches, pinched, pinching) 1 to squeeze or nip the flesh of someone or something, between thumb and finger. 2 to compress or squeeze something painfully. 3 said eg of cold or hunger: to affect someone or something painfully or injuriously. 4 tr & intr said of tight shoes: to hurt or chafe. 5 tr & intr, colloq to steal. 6 intrans said of controls, restrictions, shortages, etc: to cause hardship. 7 intrans to economize • had to pinch and scrape to get by. 8 colloq to arrest someone. noun (pinches) 1 an act of pinching; a nip or squeeze. 2 the quantity of something (eg salt) that can be held between thumb and finger. 3 a very small amount. 4 a critical time of difficulty or hardship. at a pinch colloq if absolutely necessary. feel the pinch colloq to find life, work, etc difficult because of lack of money. know where the shoe pinches to know by direct experience what the problem or difficulty is.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from French pincier to pinch.