in a pinch
idiom
US
: in a bad situation when help is needed
I can help out in a pinch if you need a babysitter.
In a pinch, you can substitute another ingredient in the recipe.
Examples of in a pinch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This cordless stick vacuum includes a removable handheld vacuum to tidy up small messes in a pinch.
—
Ali Faccenda, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025
While Fulmer has been stretched out and could start for the Red Sox in a pinch, the club may be able to get by until Brayan Bello is ready to return.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
And in a pinch: a riesling goes with just about anything.
—Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2025
Maybelline’s Tattoo Brow is a peel-off tint that comes in handy in a pinch.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in a pinch
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Ali Faccenda, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025
While Fulmer has been stretched out and could start for the Red Sox in a pinch, the club may be able to get by until Brayan Bello is ready to return.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
And in a pinch: a riesling goes with just about anything.
—Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2025
Maybelline’s Tattoo Brow is a peel-off tint that comes in handy in a pinch.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in a pinch
Cite this Entry
“In a pinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20a%20pinch. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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