Definition of at a pinch
- I can help out at a pinch if you need a babysitter.
- At a pinch, you can substitute another ingredient in the recipe.
: to squeeze between the finger and thumb or between the jaws of an instrument
: to prune the tip of (a plant or shoot) usually to induce branching
: to squeeze or compress painfully
: a critical juncture : emergency
: pressure, stress
: hardship, privation
: substitute
: hit by a pinch hitter
What made you want to look up at a pinch? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).