pinch
gb/pˈɪnt͡ʃ/ us/pˈɪnt͡ʃ/
A2
Englanti
~ 8100
megcsíp, becsíp, összecsíp, csipet, lenyúl, szorít, anyagi nehézség, csippent, lecsíp, csípés, elfogás, lekapcsol, letartóztatás, szorult helyzet, szükség esetén
VERBI
A2
1
Käyttömalli:
to pinch [someone/something]
She pinched his arm to get his attention.
Megcsípte a férfi karját, hogy felhívja magára a figyelmét.
The nurse gently pinched the skin before giving the injection.
A nővér finoman összecsípte a bőrt, mielőtt beadta az injekciót.
He pinched his cheek to make sure he was really awake.
Stop pinching your little brother; it’s not nice.
I felt someone pinch me in the crowded bus.
Oppijaesimerkit
The child pinched his sister.
A gyerek megcsípte a lánytestvérét.
I pinched my hand on the door.
Becsíptem a kezemet az ajtóba.
She pinched my arm and laughed.
He pinched his own cheek.
Please do not pinch me.
Tyypillinen virhe:
Learners sometimes confuse "pinch" with "punch". "Pinch" uses the fingers and hurts a small area; "punch" uses a closed hand (fist) and is usually much stronger.
Merkitys
squeeze skin between fingers
Kollokaatiot
pinch someone
|pinch her arm
|pinch his cheek
|pinch yourself
|pinch the skin
Synonyymit
squeeze (More general; does not always suggest a small area of skin or pain.)
Antonyymit
stroke (Means to move the hand gently over the skin, the opposite of causing sharp discomfort.)
Teemat
body
|daily life
|physical actions
|health
Määritelmä
To press a small part of the skin between your fingers so that it hurts a little.
To press or squeeze a small area of skin firmly between finger and thumb, usually causing brief, sharp discomfort.
SUBSTANTIIVI
A2
2
csipet
A2
Käyttömalli:
a pinch of [substance]
Add a pinch of salt to the soup.
Tegyél egy csipet sót a levesbe.
He sprinkled a pinch of sugar over the berries.
Egy csipet cukrot szórt a bogyós gyümölcsökre.
The recipe only needs a pinch of pepper.
She tasted the sauce and added another pinch of salt.
Just a pinch of cinnamon makes a big difference.
Oppijaesimerkit
Put a pinch of salt in the water.
Tegyél egy csipet sót a vízbe.
The tea needs a pinch of sugar.
A teába kell egy csipet cukor.
I added a pinch of pepper to my eggs.
Use only a pinch of this spice.
She gave the dish one last pinch of salt.
Tyypillinen virhe:
Learners sometimes say "one pinch ofs" or "a little pinch of salt of". The correct pattern is "a pinch of [something]" with no extra "of" after the noun.
Merkitys
very small amount of powder
Kollokaatiot
a pinch of salt
|a pinch of sugar
|a pinch of pepper
|add a pinch
|just a pinch
Synonyymit
dash (Also means a small amount of something, often a liquid like sauce or milk rather than a dry powder.)
Antonyymit
heap (A large pile or large amount, the opposite of a very small quantity.)
Teemat
cooking
|food
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Määritelmä
A very small amount of something like salt or sugar that you can take with your fingers.
A very small amount of a powdered or granulated substance that you can hold between your finger and thumb, especially in cooking.
VERBI
B1
INFORMAL
3
lenyúl
B2
Käyttömalli:
to pinch [something] (from [place/person])
Someone pinched my phone on the train.
Valaki lenyúlta a telefonomat a vonaton.
He got into trouble for pinching sweets from the corner shop.
Bajba került, mert pár édességet nyúlt le a sarki boltból.
They accused him of pinching money from the cash box.
Who pinched my pen? It was on this desk a moment ago.
She joked that her little brother always pinched her snacks.
Oppijaesimerkit
Someone pinched my bag on the bus.
Valaki lenyúlta a táskámat a buszon.
The boy pinched some candy from the store.
A fiú lenyúlt néhány cukorkát a boltból.
My pen is gone; I think someone pinched it.
He pinched a few coins from his dad.
Do not pinch things from your friends.
Tyypillinen virhe:
Learners may try to use "pinch" for serious crimes, like bank robbery. In modern English, "pinch" for stealing is informal and usually used for small, not very serious thefts.
Merkitys
steal something (informal)
Kollokaatiot
pinch a bike
|pinch some money
|pinch his wallet
|pinch it from the shop
|pinched my idea
Synonyymit
steal (Neutral and more common in all contexts; "pinch" is more informal and often sounds lighter or less serious.)
Antonyymit
return (Means to give something back to its owner, the opposite of taking it without permission.)
Teemat
crime
|daily life
|law
|daily_life
Määritelmä
To take something that is not yours without asking, especially a small thing.
To steal something, especially something small or of low value, without permission.
VERBI
B1
4
szorít
A2
Käyttömalli:
to pinch [body part]
These shoes pinch my toes after an hour of walking.
Egy óra gyaloglás után ezek a cipők szorítják a lábujjaimat.
The tight collar pinched his neck.
A szoros gallér szorította a nyakát.
Her new boots looked great but pinched at the heels.
The straps of the backpack were pinching his shoulders.
Make sure the helmet doesn’t pinch anywhere.
Oppijaesimerkit
My new shoes pinch my feet.
Az új cipőm szorítja a lábamat.
The dress is nice, but it pinches at the waist.
Szép a ruha, de derékban szorít.
This hat pinches my head a little.
The belt is too tight and pinches my skin.
These boots pinch my toes when I walk.
Tyypillinen virhe:
Learners sometimes say "my shoes are pinched" when they mean "my shoes pinch my feet". The subject is usually the item that is too tight, not the body part.
Merkitys
cause tight, painful pressure
Kollokaatiot
shoes pinch
|pinch your toes
|pinch at the waist
|pinch the skin
|where it pinches
Synonyymit
press (General word for pushing on something; does not always suggest pain or that something is too tight.)
Antonyymit
fit comfortably (Describes clothing or objects that do not squeeze or hurt the body.)
Teemat
body
|clothing
|discomfort
Määritelmä
To press or hold something too tightly so that it hurts or feels uncomfortable.
To press or squeeze something so that it feels tight or causes discomfort, especially because it is too small or narrow.
SUBSTANTIIVI
B2
5
Käyttömalli:
feel the pinch
With energy bills rising, many families are starting to feel the pinch.
Az energiaszámlák emelkedésével sok család kezdi megérezni az anyagi nehézségeket.
Even high earners are feeling the pinch as rents go up.
A bérleti díjak emelkedésével még a magas keresetűek is megérzik az anyagi nyomást.
Small businesses really felt the pinch during the winter.
Students often feel the pinch at the end of the month.
The company is feeling the pinch after several bad quarters.
Oppijaesimerkit
Many people feel the pinch when rent goes up.
Sokan megérzik az anyagi nehézségeket, amikor emelkedik a lakbér.
After he lost his job, his family really felt the pinch.
Miután elveszítette az állását, a családja igazán megérezte az anyagi nehézségeket.
We are feeling the pinch because food is more expensive now.
Small shops feel the pinch when fewer people buy things.
They will feel the pinch if prices keep going higher.
Tyypillinen virhe:
Learners may try to use "pinch" alone to mean "financial problem", but this sense is almost always used in the fixed phrase "feel the pinch".
Merkitys
financial difficulty or hardship
Kollokaatiot
feel the pinch
|really feel the pinch
|families feeling the pinch
|the pinch of rising prices
|start to feel the pinch
Synonyymit
hardship (General word for serious difficulty; "pinch" in this sense is usually limited to money and costs.)
Antonyymit
prosperity (A state of having plenty of money and living well, the opposite of financial hardship.)
Teemat
money
|economy
|daily life
|finance
|daily_life
Määritelmä
A time when you do not have enough money and it is hard for you.
A state of financial difficulty in which someone does not have enough money and feels economic pressure.
VERBI
A2
6
csippent
B2
Käyttömalli:
to pinch [the screen/image]
You can pinch the screen to zoom in on the photo.
A képernyőn két ujjadat széthúzva ránagyíthatsz a fényképre.
Pinch out to see more detail on the map.
Húzd szét két ujjadat, hogy több részletet láss a térképen.
If the text is too small, just pinch to make it bigger.
She pinched in to get a wider view of the picture.
Most smartphone apps let you pinch and zoom easily.
Oppijaesimerkit
Pinch the screen to make the picture bigger.
Húzd szét két ujjadat a képernyőn, hogy nagyobb legyen a kép.
You can pinch out to zoom in on the map.
A térképen két ujjadat széthúzva ránagyíthatsz.
He pinched the photo to see my face clearly.
If the text is small, pinch the screen.
She showed him how to pinch and zoom on the tablet.
Tyypillinen virhe:
Learners sometimes say "zoom with your fingers" instead of the more natural "pinch to zoom" when talking about touchscreens.
Merkitys
touchscreen gesture to zoom
Kollokaatiot
pinch to zoom
|pinch the screen
|pinch in
|pinch out
|pinch and zoom
Synonyymit
zoom (Describes the change in size (in or out); it does not specify using a finger gesture.)
Antonyymit
tap (Another touchscreen action that means quickly touching the screen once, not moving fingers together or apart.)
Teemat
technology
|computing
|daily life
|communication
Määritelmä
To put two fingers on a phone or tablet screen and move them together or apart to make something smaller or bigger.
On a touchscreen, to move two fingers together or apart on the surface in order to zoom in or out or otherwise change the view.
VERBI
B1
7
Käyttömalli:
to pinch [something] (off/together/shut)
Pinch the edges of the pastry together so the filling doesn’t leak out.
Csípd össze a tészta széleit, hogy ne folyjon ki a töltelék.
She pinched off the dead flowers to help the plant grow.
Lecsípte az elnyílt virágokat, hogy a növény jobban nőjön.
Pinch the wire flat before you bend it.
He pinched the top of the bag shut.
Gently pinch back the new shoots to keep the plant low.
Oppijaesimerkit
Pinch the two sides of the dough together.
Csípd össze a tészta két oldalát.
She pinched off a small piece of clay.
Lecsípett egy kis darabot az agyagból.
I pinched the top of the bag so it would stay closed.
He pinched the ends of the pie crust.
The gardener pinched off the old flowers.
Tyypillinen virhe:
Learners may only know "pinch" as causing pain to skin and not realize it can be used for shaping dough, bags, or plants with the fingers.
Merkitys
shape or remove using fingers
Kollokaatiot
pinch the edges together
|pinch off the end
|pinch the dough
|pinch out the buds
|pinch the seam shut
Synonyymit
nip (Also means to pinch off a small piece, often in gardening; slightly more technical or old-fashioned.)
Antonyymit
loosen (Means to make something less tight or open it, the opposite of pinching it closed or off.)
Teemat
manual work
|cooking
|gardening
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Määritelmä
To hold a small part of something between your fingers to change its shape or take a small piece off.
To grip a small part of something between finger and thumb in order to shape it, close it, or remove a piece of it.
SUBSTANTIIVI
A2
8
csípés
A2
Käyttömalli:
a pinch on [body part]
I felt a sharp pinch on my arm.
Éles csípést éreztem a karomon.
The nurse said, "You’ll feel a little pinch," before the injection.
Az injekció előtt a nővér azt mondta: „Egy kis csípést fog érezni.”
She gave him a playful pinch on the cheek.
He winced at the pinch and then relaxed.
A sudden pinch made him jump.
Oppijaesimerkit
I felt a small pinch on my leg.
Egy kis csípést éreztem a lábamon.
The doctor said the shot would feel like a pinch.
Az orvos azt mondta, hogy az injekció csak olyan lesz, mint egy csípés.
She gave her friend a quick pinch.
He did not like the pinch on his arm.
The pinch was fast but it hurt.
Tyypillinen virhe:
Learners sometimes say "a pinch pain"; more natural is "a pinch" or "a sharp pinch" to describe the feeling.
Merkitys
act or feeling of a pinch
Kollokaatiot
give someone a pinch
|feel a pinch
|a sharp pinch
|a quick pinch
|a little pinch
Synonyymit
nip (Also a small, sharp bite or pinch, sometimes used for cold or animals; slightly more literary.)
Antonyymit
caress (A gentle, pleasant touch, opposite in feeling to a sharp pinch.)
Teemat
body
|physical actions
|health
Määritelmä
The quick, sharp pain or action when someone pinches your skin.
The act of pinching or the brief, sharp feeling caused when the skin is pinched.
VERBI
B2
SLANG
9
Käyttömalli:
to pinch [someone] (for [crime])
He got pinched by the cops on his way out of the store.
A zsaruk lekapcsolták, amikor kifelé tartott a boltból.
The police finally pinched the gang leader last night.
A rendőrség tegnap este végre lekapcsolta a bandavezért.
They pinched him for burglary after a long investigation.
Several protesters were pinched during the demonstration.
He was pinched on suspicion of drug dealing.
Oppijaesimerkit
The police pinched the thief last night.
A rendőrség tegnap este lekapcsolta a tolvajt.
He got pinched by the cops at the station.
A zsaruk lekapcsolták az állomáson.
They pinched two men for the robbery.
She was pinched after the crime.
The gang was pinched by the police.
Tyypillinen virhe:
Learners may use this slang verb in formal writing. In formal or news English, "arrest" is preferred instead of "pinch".
Merkitys
arrest someone (slang)
Kollokaatiot
got pinched
|pinched by the cops
|pinch him for theft
|police pinched three suspects
|finally pinched the robber
Synonyymit
arrest (Standard, neutral term used in legal and formal contexts; "pinch" is informal or slangy.)
Antonyymit
release (Means to let someone go, especially from police or prison custody, the opposite of arresting them.)
Teemat
crime
|law
Määritelmä
For the police to catch and take someone away because they think that person did a crime.
For police or other authorities, to arrest someone.
SUBSTANTIIVI
B2
10
Käyttömalli:
in a pinch
In a pinch, we can use my car instead.
Szorult helyzetben használhatjuk az én autómat.
This old laptop will do in a pinch, but it’s not ideal.
Szükség esetén ez a régi laptop is megteszi, de nem ideális.
At a pinch, we could fit one more person in the car.
A tin of soup works in a pinch when you have no time to cook.
He agreed to help out in a pinch if we needed him.
Oppijaesimerkit
We can use this room in a pinch.
Szükség esetén használhatjuk ezt a szobát.
In a pinch, I can sleep on the sofa.
Ha nagyon muszáj, alhatok a kanapén.
This cheap phone is fine in a pinch.
At a pinch, we can walk instead of drive.
Ask her; she will help in a pinch.
Tyypillinen virhe:
Learners sometimes say *"in pinch"* without the article. The fixed phrase is "in a pinch" (US/Canadian) or "at a pinch" (mainly British).
Merkitys
short time of urgent difficulty
Kollokaatiot
in a pinch
|at a pinch
|help in a pinch
|do in a pinch
|use in a pinch
Synonyymit
crunch (Informal; often used in phrases like "time crunch" for a period of strong pressure.)
Antonyymit
plenty (A situation with more than enough time or resources, opposite to a tight or difficult situation.)
Teemat
problems
|daily life
|daily_life
|time
Määritelmä
A short time when you have a problem or do not have enough time, help, or things you need.
A short period of urgent difficulty when something, such as time, help, or resources, is limited.
Kielioppi
Sanakirjamuoto
pinch
IPA
GB/pˈɪnt͡ʃ/
US/pˈɪnt͡ʃ/
Tavut ja painotus
pinch (1 tavu)
Stress on 1st syllable (pinch)
Taivutusmuodot
Noun
- Base: pinch
- Plural: pinches
Verb
- Base: pinch
- 3rd Person Singular: pinches
- Present Participle: pinching
- Past: pinched
Sanaperhe
Forms
pinches
noun
pinching
verb
pinched
verb
Related words
pincher
noun
Advanced or less common
pincer
noun
Ilmaukset
a pinch of salt
1/ə pˈɪnt͡ʃ əv sˈɔlt/
fixed phrase
very small amount of salt
A very small amount of salt that you can take with your fingers.
Esimerkit
- Add a pinch of salt to bring out the flavor.
- She always puts just a pinch of salt on her eggs.
- The recipe only calls for a pinch of salt.
at a pinch
1/ˈæt ə pˈɪnt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
just possible, with difficulty
Used to say that something is possible, but only with difficulty and not in a perfect way.
Esimerkit
- At a pinch, we can fit three more people in the car.
- The sofa can, at a pinch, sleep two.
- We could, at a pinch, finish the work by tonight.
feel the pinch
1/fˈil ðə pˈɪnt͡ʃ/
idiom
suffer from money problems
To have money problems because things are expensive or you have less money.
Esimerkit
- Many families are feeling the pinch after the tax rise.
- Small shops really feel the pinch when big chains open nearby.
- Even tech companies are starting to feel the pinch.
in a pinch
1/ˈɪn ə pˈɪnt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
if necessary, in an emergency
Used to say that something is not the best, but it is okay to use or do when you really need it and have no better choice.
Esimerkit
- In a pinch, instant noodles make a quick dinner.
- We can borrow chairs from the office in a pinch.
- That small room could be a guest bedroom in a pinch.
pinch and zoom
1/pˈɪnt͡ʃ ˈænd zˈum/
fixed phrase
zoom using pinch gesture
To make something bigger or smaller on a screen by using two fingers and moving them together or apart.
Esimerkit
- You can pinch and zoom on the map to see more detail.
- Most photo apps let you pinch and zoom easily.
- Just pinch and zoom if the text is too small.
pinch hit for
1/pˈɪnt͡ʃ hˈɪt fɚ/
idiom
informal
substitute for someone briefly
To do someone else’s job or role for a short time, especially at the last moment.
Esimerkit
- Can you pinch hit for me at the meeting this afternoon?
- She pinch hit for the usual presenter when he was sick.
- We asked Tom to pinch hit for the drummer at the concert.
pinch me
1/pˈɪnt͡ʃ mˈi/
idiom
informal
exclaim disbelief at good news
Said when something is so good or surprising that you almost cannot believe it is real.
Esimerkit
- I just got the job—someone pinch me!
- We’re going to Paris next week. Pinch me, I must be dreaming.
- Pinch me, is this really happening?
pinch pennies
1/pˈɪnt͡ʃ pˈɛniz/
idiom
be extremely careful with money
To be very careful not to spend money, sometimes too careful.
Esimerkit
- We’ve been pinching pennies since he lost his job.
- They really pinch pennies when it comes to vacations.
- She’s pinching pennies to save for a new car.
pinch point
1/pˈɪnt͡ʃ pˈɔɪnt/
fixed phrase
narrow place causing slowdown
A place where a road, path, or process becomes narrow and things move more slowly or with problems.
Esimerkit
- This junction is a major pinch point during rush hour.
- We need to redesign the system to remove that pinch point.
- Security checks are the main pinch point for passengers.
pinch yourself
1/pˈɪnt͡ʃ jʊɹsˈɛlf/
idiom
check if something is real
To feel very surprised that something good is real, as if you need to hurt yourself a little to believe it.
Esimerkit
- I had to pinch myself when I saw my exam results.
- She kept pinching herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
- Standing on that stage, he could hardly believe it and wanted to pinch himself.
put the pinch on someone
1/pˈʊt ðə pˈɪnt͡ʃ ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌn/
idiom
informal
strongly pressure someone
To put a lot of pressure on someone, often to get money or a favor from them.
Esimerkit
- They’re putting the pinch on customers with all these new fees.
- The gang put the pinch on local businesses for protection money.
- He tried to put the pinch on his parents for a bigger allowance.
take something with a pinch of salt
1/tˈeɪk sˈʌmθɪŋ wˈɪθ ə pˈɪnt͡ʃ əv sˈɔlt/
idiom
not fully believe something
To not fully believe something you hear or read, because you think it may not be completely true.
Esimerkit
- You should take his promises with a pinch of salt.
- I take anything I read on social media with a pinch of salt.
- Her story was funny, but I’d take it with a pinch of salt.