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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If so, its still a quick and clever method for styling a bun in a pinch. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2025 In fact, my nine-year-old still uses it without the valve in a pinch. Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Sep. 2025 Isiah Kiner-Falefa is likely the other option to take over the position in a pinch. Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025 Roast up marshmallows right there on the table for ooey-gooey s’mores in a pinch. Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 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 17 Sep. 2025.

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