at a pinch
idiom
British
: in a bad situation when help is needed
I can help out at a pinch if you need a babysitter.
At a pinch, you can substitute another ingredient in the recipe.
Examples of at a pinch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On Friday, Bogaerts swung and missed at a pinch grabbed at his hamstring and ultimately walked off the field with a trainer.
—
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“At a pinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20a%20pinch. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share