From Middle English pinchen, from Old Northern French *pinchier (compare Old French pincier, pincer (“to pinch”)), a word of uncertain origin, possibly from Vulgar Latin *pinciāre (“to puncture, pinch”), from a merger of *punctiāre (“to puncture, sting”), from Latin punctiō (“a puncture, prick”) and *piccāre (“to strike, sting”), from Frankish *pikkōn, from Proto-Germanic *pikkōną (“to pick, peck, prick”). More at point, pick and pitch.
Meanings
The action of squeezing a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt.
A close compression of anything with the fingers.
I gave the leather of the sofa a pinch, gauging the texture.
A small amount of powder or granules, such that the amount could be held between fingertip and thumb tip.
Mix about four cups of white flour with a pinch of salt.
An awkward situation of some kind (especially money or social) which is difficult to escape.
It took nerve and muscle both to carry the body out and down the stairs to the lower hall, but he damn well had to get it out of his place and away from his door, and any of those four could have done it in a pinch, and it sure was a pinch. 1955 October, Rex Stout, “Die Like a Dog”, in Three Witnesses, Bantam, published 1994, →ISBN, page 171:
And wel his merits ſhew him to be made
His Fortunes maiſter, and the king of men.
That could perſwade at ſuch a ſodaine pinch,
With reaſons of his valour and his life,
A thouſand ſworne and ouer-matching foes: c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene i:
A metal bar used as a lever for lifting weights, rolling wheels, etc.
An organic herbal smoke additive.
A magnetic compression of an electrically conducting filament.
The narrow part connecting the two bulbs of an hourglass.
It looked like an hourglass, but all those little glittering shapes tumbling through the pinch were seconds. 2001, Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time:
(slang) An arrest.
(Australia, New-Zealand) A steep incline; a very steep section of road.
Down several steep pinches the lubra went sprawling[.] 1937, Ion L. Idriess, Over the Range, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, published 1947, page 283:
pl szczypta (small amount of powder) · cs špetka (small amount of powder) · izh näppi (small amount of powder) · bg ощипване (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · pl szczypanie (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · ota چمدك (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · ru щепо́тка (small amount of powder) · bg затруднение (difficult situation) · es peñizco (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · nl snufje (small amount of powder) · fi nipistys (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · ca pessic (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · tr çimdik (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · ru щепо́ть (small amount of powder) · da drys (small amount of powder) · bcl kudot (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · de Messerspitze (small amount of powder) · pt beliscada (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · fr pincée (small amount of powder) · az çimdik (small amount of powder) · eo pinĉopreno (small amount of powder) · ga gráinnín (small amount of powder) · fa وشکون (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · es pichintún (small amount of powder) · ja ピンチ (difficult situation) · mk прстофат (small amount of powder) · cmn 掐 (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · es aprieto (difficult situation) · es peñisco (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · es pizca (small amount of powder) · ga liomóg (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · sv nypa (small amount of powder) · it pizzico (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · ckb نوقورچ (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · nl snuifje (small amount of powder) · es pichichuela (small amount of powder) · ga gráinne (small amount of powder) · sh štipanje (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · cy pinsiaid (small amount of powder) · eo pinĉpreno (small amount of powder) · es pizco (small amount of powder) · cmn 捻 (small amount of powder) · de Prise (small amount of powder) · fa نشکنج (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · it pizzico (small amount of powder) · he קֹמֶץ (small amount of powder) · bg щи́пка (small amount of powder) · sv nyp (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · ar قَرْصَة (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · acw قَرْصَة (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · aa lífiq (small amount of powder) · nap pizzico (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · io pinchedo (small amount of powder) · sdh قوِڕینجِگ (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · ca pessic (small amount of powder) · io pincho (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · pl szczypnięcie (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · es pellizcón (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · kmr qurincîk (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · uk щипо́к (small amount of powder) · es peñizcón (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · fr pincement (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · es pigricia (small amount of powder) · pt pitada (ex: uma pitada de sal) (small amount of powder) · fi hyppynen (small amount of powder) · pt aperto (difficult situation) · uk щи́почка (small amount of powder) · da knib (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · pt beliscão (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · eu zimiko (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · ga scealpóg (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · he מָצוֹק (difficult situation) · hu csipet (small amount of powder) · ckb قونجورکە (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · id sejumput (small amount of powder) · da niv (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · be шчыпо́к (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · fi hyppysellinen (small amount of powder) · es pellizco (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · ca dificultat (difficult situation) · ru щипо́к (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · uk щи́пка (small amount of powder) · az atım (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · ru щипа́ние (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · ca cuita (difficult situation) · cmn 困境 (difficult situation) · ca destret (difficult situation) · es ñizca (small amount of powder) · sv knipa (difficult situation) · sdh قوِنجیڕ (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · eo pinĉaĵo (small amount of powder) · es repizco (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · as চিকুট (small amount of powder) · fi pinteessä (difficult situation) · fa نشگون (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · he צְבִיטָה (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · nrf pînchie (small amount of powder) · pt alhada (difficult situation) · hu csipetnyi (small amount of powder) · da nap (action of squeezing a small amount of skin) · el πρέζα (small amount of powder)
From Middle English pinchen, from Old Northern French *pinchier (compare Old French pincier, pincer (“to pinch”)), a word of uncertain origin, possibly from Vulgar Latin *pinciāre (“to puncture, pinch”), from a merger of *punctiāre (“to puncture, sting”), from Latin punctiō (“a puncture, prick”) and *piccāre (“to strike, sting”), from Frankish *pikkōn, from Proto-Germanic *pikkōną (“to pick, peck, prick”). More at point, pick and pitch.
Meanings
To squeeze a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt.
This shoe pinches my foot.
The children were scolded for pinching each other.
To squeeze between the thumb and forefinger.
He took the plate in his hand, holding it between thumb and forefinger at one corner, letting it hang down. With the other hand he pinched it at the opposite corner, pressing thumb and forefinger together tightly. 2014, Harlan Ellison, Paingod and Other Delusions, →ISBN:
To squeeze between two objects.
Since the resistance of the channel is inversely proportional to its width, the most resistive region is the one pinched between the gates where they come closest to each other. 2012, Supriyo Bandyopadhyay, Physics of Nanostructured Solid State Devices, →ISBN, page 446:
(intransitive) Of clothing, to be uncomfortably tight in specific spots.
With their jock-straps pinching, they slouch to attention
While queueing for sarnies at the office canteen. 1972, “Thick As A Brick”, Ian Anderson (lyrics), performed by Jethro Tull:
(slang, transitive) To steal, usually something inconsequential.
Someone has pinched my handkerchief!
Then, as the Sunderland fans' cheers bellowed around the stadium, United's title bid was over when it became apparent City had pinched a last-gasp winner to seal their first title in 44 years. 2012 May 13, Alistair Magowan, “Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd”, in BBC Sport:
“Hey, blokes,” yelled Dean or perhaps Serge, “let's pinch a boat.” 1966 March, Thomas Pynchon, chapter 3, in The Crying of Lot 49, New York, N.Y.: Bantam Books, published November 1976, →ISBN, page 37:
(slang, transitive) To arrest or capture.
To cut shoots or buds of a plant in order to shape the plant, or to improve its yield.
To sail so close-hauled that the sails begin to flutter.
To take hold; to grip, as a dog does.
(intransitive, obsolete) To be stingy or covetous; to live sparingly.
1788, Benjamin Franklin (attributed), Paper
the wretch whom avarice bids to pinch and spare
There was with him none other fare,
But for to pinche and for to spare c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:
(of animals) To seize; to grip; to bite.
He [the hound] pinch'd and pull'd her down. 1614–1615, Homer, “(please specify the book number)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615, →OCLC; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volume (please specify the book number), London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857, →OCLC:
(figuratively) To cramp; to straiten; to oppress; to starve.
want of room […] which pincheth the whole nation c. 1610?, Walter Raleigh, A Discourse of War:
to be pinched for money
The Christian also spurns the pinched and mumping sick-room attitude, and the lives of saints are full of a kind of callousness to diseased conditions of body which probably no other human records show. 1902, William James, “Lecture 2”, in The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature […] , New York, N.Y.; London: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC:
Camillo was his helpe in this, his Pandar:
There is a Plot against my Life, my Crowne;
All's true that is mistrusted: that false Villaine,
Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him:
He ha's discouer'd my Designe, and I
Remaine a pinch'd Thing; c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
[…]the well-to-do working men did not hope, since they were not pinched and had no means of learning their degraded position[…] 1888, William Morris, Signs of Change […] , London: Reeves and Turner, page 105:
To move, as a railroad car, by prying the wheels with a pinch.
(obsolete) To complain or find fault.
Therefore who so them accuse
Of any double entencion,
To speake, rowne, other to muse,
To pinch at their condicion,
All is but false collusion,
I dare rightwell the sothe express,
They have no better protection, 1809, Alexander Chalmers ed. The Works of the English Poets, from Cahucer to Cowper, Vol. 1, modern rendering of poem imputed to Geoffrey Chaucer, "A Ballad which Chaucer made in Praise or rather Dispraise of Women for their Doubleness"
de stehlen (to steal) · mi kuku (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · mk штипе (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · cs štípnout (to steal) · gl roubar (to steal) · fi nipistää (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · cmn 搶風 /抢风 (nautical: to sail close-hauled) · ru спи́здить (to steal) · cmn 偷 (to steal) · ta கிள்ளு (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · pl szczypać (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · uk щипа́ти (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · sk uštipnúť (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · es chorear (to steal) · ja 抓る (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · cmn 修剪 (horticulture: to cut shoots or buds) · mi whakakini (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · la vellico (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ckb نوقورچ لێدان (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ro ciupi (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · de kneifen (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · sk štípať (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ru стащи́ть (to steal) · fi piinata (nautical: to sail close-hauled) · mt qaras (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu nyakon csíp (to arrest or capture) · hu megcsíp (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · es repizcar (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · de zwicken (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · my ဆိတ် (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · nl knijpen (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · he צבט (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · bg прищипвам (to squeeze between two objects) · hu csíp (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu csór (to steal) · nb småstjele (to steal) · da negle (to steal) · oc peçugar (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · bcl kudot (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ru арестова́ть (to arrest or capture) · io pinchar (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · te గిల్లు (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · mi kikini (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu szorít (to squeeze between two objects) · acw قرص (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · is klípa (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · nrf pînchi (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · oc pecigar (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · nn knipa (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · fr chiper (to steal) · hu lenyír (horticulture: to cut shoots or buds) · nn naska (to steal) · kix thāk (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · nap pezzecà (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ca pessigar (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · gl beliscar (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · mhr авалткалаш (to steal) · es chorizar (to steal) · de abpressen (to steal) · hu összeszorít (to squeeze between two objects) · cmn 掐 (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · fi näpistää (to steal) · ru защеми́ть (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · pt roubar (to steal) · ro pișca (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · fi latvoa (horticulture: to cut shoots or buds) · ru ущипну́ть (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu elcsór (to steal) · hu elcsen (to steal) · az çimdikləmək (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu elcsakliz (to steal) · sv snatta (to steal) · da knibe (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · sh уштинути (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · de entwenden (to steal) · da nuppe (to steal) · it pizzicare (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · vi nhéo (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu élesen a szélben vitorlázik (nautical: to sail close-hauled) · mi pakini (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · sv pina (nautical: to sail close-hauled) · fr pincer (to arrest or capture) · lt žnaibyti (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · de erwischen (to arrest or capture) · ota چمدكلمك (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · eo pinĉi (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ru прищеми́ть (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · rup chishcu (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · pt beliscar (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ckb قونجورک گرتن (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · nrf pînchi (to arrest or capture) · cmn 捏 (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · cmn 逮 (to arrest or capture) · sv nypa (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · sv knipa (to arrest or capture) · hu elcsíp (to arrest or capture) · ca pispar (to steal) · mi kini (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · sl uščipniti (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · nn knabba (to steal) · fr pincer (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · uk ущипну́ти (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · mi nanapi (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · bg задигам (to steal) · es peñiscar (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · es pellizcar (to steal) · tr çalmak (to steal) · hu beszorít (to squeeze between two objects) · tyz bít (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu belecsíp (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · nn rappa (to steal) · ru аресто́вывать (to arrest or capture) · be ушчыпну́ць (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu lop (to steal) · az əkişdirmək (to steal) · ru схвати́ть (to arrest or capture) · fi pihistää (to steal) · chr ᎠᏇᏄᎩᎠ (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · es birlar (to steal) · hu befog (to squeeze between two objects) · ar قَرَصَ (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · vi béo (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · cmn 抓 (to arrest or capture) · ms cubit (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · fi leikata (horticulture: to cut shoots or buds) · as চিকুটা (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · da hugge (to steal) · da nappe (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · gl pispar (to steal) · it acciuffare (to arrest or capture) · hu megmetsz (horticulture: to cut shoots or buds) · yi קנײַפּן (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · bg арестувам (to arrest or capture) · bg щипя (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ru защемля́ть (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · cs štípnout (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu metsz (horticulture: to cut shoots or buds) · az fırlatmaq (to steal) · th หยิก (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · es afanar (to steal) · da snuppe (to arrest or capture) · da tage (to arrest or capture) · pl szczypnąć (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ru щипа́ть (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · nn småstela (to steal) · hu becsíp (to squeeze between two objects) · da klemme (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ko 꼬집다 (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · es peñizcar (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ru схва́тывать (to arrest or capture) · hu présel (nautical: to sail close-hauled) · ms چوبيت (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · sh uštinuti (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · cmn 逆風 /逆风 (nautical: to sail close-hauled) · sl ščipati (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · cs štípat (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu elkap (to arrest or capture) · da nive (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu csippent (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu elfog (to arrest or capture) · mi taukini (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ht pense (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · mi nonoti (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · bg крада (to steal) · ru прищемля́ть (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · vi véo (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · sk štipnúť (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · fi napata (to arrest or capture) · es pellizcar (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · be шчыпа́ць (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ru сты́рить (to steal) · tr çimdiklemek (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · bg подрязвам (horticulture: to cut shoots or buds) · id mencubit (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · ba семетеү (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · sv knipsa (horticulture: to cut shoots or buds) · mi whakakikini (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · izh näpissellä (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · de schnappen (to arrest or capture) · yue 搣 (to squeeze a small amount of skin) · hu csen (to steal) · hu élesen szél ellen szorít (nautical: to sail close-hauled) · hu ellop (to steal)