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
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On Friday, Bogaerts swung and missed at a pinch grabbed at his hamstring and ultimately walked off the field with a trainer.
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Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2025
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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 24 Jul. 2025.
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