# pinch

/ˈpɪntʃ/ (US) · /pˈɪntʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pinch
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to squeeze skin

verb · CEFR B2

to squeeze someone's skin between your thumb and finger, often making it hurt a little.

For teachers: to grip a small amount of flesh or material between the thumb and forefinger, typically causing sharp, localized pressure.

- She gave his arm a playful pinch to get his attention.
- The child reached out to pinch his brother's arm, resulting in a sharp cry and an immediate reprimand from their mother.

### 2. to steal

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

to steal something, usually something small or not very expensive.

For teachers: to steal an item, typically one of minor value. Transitive and informal in register.

- Someone managed to pinch my pen while I was away from my desk.
- He admitted that he used to pinch apples from the neighbor's orchard when he was a young boy.

### 3. to be too tight

verb · CEFR B2

when shoes or clothes are too tight and cause pain in one spot.

For teachers: to cause pain or discomfort by being too tight or restrictive, particularly in reference to footwear.

- These new leather shoes really pinch my toes when I walk.
- Although the boots were stylish, they began to pinch her heels so severely that she had to change into trainers for the walk home.

### 4. horticulture

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to remove the tips of a plant's stems to help it grow better.

For teachers: to remove the terminal bud or shoot of a plant to encourage lateral growth and a bushier habit.

- You should pinch back the herbs to make the plant grow more leaves.
- The gardener advised us to pinch out the leading shoots of the fuchsias to promote a more compact and floriferous display.

### 5. a small amount

noun · CEFR B1

the tiny amount of something you can hold between your thumb and finger.

For teachers: a small, indefinite amount of a granular or powdered substance that can be held between the thumb and forefinger.

- Add a pinch of salt to the soup to bring out the flavor.
- The recipe calls for a pinch of saffron, which provides a delicate aroma and a vibrant golden hue to the rice.

### 6. a difficult situation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a situation where there is not enough of something, especially money.

For teachers: a state of hardship, distress, or financial pressure.

- Many families are feeling the pinch as food prices continue to rise.
- The sudden increase in interest rates meant that many small businesses began to feel the economic pinch almost immediately.

### 7. an arrest

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · British English

the act of the police catching and arresting someone.

For teachers: the act of apprehending a suspect or making an arrest.

- The thief was caught in a pinch just as he was leaving the building.
- The detective was confident that they would make a clean pinch before the suspect could reach the airport.

## Examples

- Add a pinch of salt to the soup.
- The chef suggested adding a pinch of dried herbs to the sauce just before serving to brighten the flavor.
- While the data suggests a significant trend, most analysts recommend taking the preliminary results with a pinch of salt until the full study is published next year.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.