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 popular pair couldn’t be easier to slide on in a pinch (literally!).
—
People Deals Team, People.com, 10 July 2025
Now that summer is in full swing, the best air conditioners on Amazon are helpful home appliances to install in a pinch.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2025
To eradicate any wrinkles in a pinch, one reviewer suggests popping it in the dryer for five minutes.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025
Bonus points for being flexible, thin and incredibly pack-friendly, a Slim Jim offers you a nice calorie baseline in a pinch.
—Kade Krichko, Outside Online, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for in a pinch
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People Deals Team, People.com, 10 July 2025
Now that summer is in full swing, the best air conditioners on Amazon are helpful home appliances to install in a pinch.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2025
To eradicate any wrinkles in a pinch, one reviewer suggests popping it in the dryer for five minutes.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025
Bonus points for being flexible, thin and incredibly pack-friendly, a Slim Jim offers you a nice calorie baseline in a pinch.
—Kade Krichko, Outside Online, 4 July 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 20 Jul. 2025.
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