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

Marshall also has running back Dylan Edwards to lean on in a pinch. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026

Super glue can be used for anything in a pinch from repairing a crack in a hard bait or fly line to closing a painful line cut on your finger. — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

The best-selling Outdoor Ventures Packable Jacket packs into its own pouch, which can be tossed into your day bag or used as a travel pillow in a pinch, and offers just enough warmth for a chilly plane cabin without weighing you down. — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2026

Plus, the clip can hold a 4-mm bit and double as a screwdriver in a pinch. — New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for in a pinch

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