in a pinch

phrase

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

Nutritionists generally note that the amount of trace minerals consumed in a pinch of any salt is small, so unrefined salts should not be viewed as a substitute for a mineral-rich diet. — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026

Hashbrown Casserole Every Southern host needs a go-to casserole for whipping up in a pinch for drop-in guests or bringing to a last-minute potluck. — Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2026

Peterson recommends keeping a few backup tools on hand for situations where severe weather or spotty cell service leaves you in a pinch. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 11 Aug. 2026

This upcoming model packs an extra feature that could help cool you down in a pinch. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 3 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for in a pinch

• bullfinch
• goldfinch
• cinch
• finch
• flinch
• inch
• lynch
• synch
• winch