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
Roast up marshmallows right there on the table for ooey-gooey s’mores in a pinch.
—
Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2025
Las Vegas is playing exceptionally small, as Kiah Stokes and Meg Gustafson are only sparingly getting in off the bench, and Chelsea Gray has held up defending forwards in a pinch.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
His playmaking and scoring are very methodical, but not something that Houston can look to in a pinch.
—Mikai Bruce, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
This genius battery adapter converts AAA batteries to AAs in a pinch.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Aug. 2025
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Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2025
Las Vegas is playing exceptionally small, as Kiah Stokes and Meg Gustafson are only sparingly getting in off the bench, and Chelsea Gray has held up defending forwards in a pinch.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
His playmaking and scoring are very methodical, but not something that Houston can look to in a pinch.
—Mikai Bruce, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
This genius battery adapter converts AAA batteries to AAs in a pinch.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 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 9 Sep. 2025.
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