pinch
/pɪntʃ; pɪntʃ/ v
1 [Tn, Tn.pr]
(a) take or hold (sth) in a tight grip between the thumb and finger 捏, 掐（某物）
He pinched the child's cheek playfully. 他捏那孩子的脸颊玩.
(b) hurt (sb) by holding his flesh in this way 掐, 捏, 拧（某人）
The child was crying because somebody had pinched her. 那孩子哭了, 因为有人掐她.
I was so amazed I had to pinch myself in case it was all a dream. 我非常惊讶, 连忙掐了自己一把看是否这一切都是一场梦.
(c) have (sth) in a tight grip between two hard things that are pressed together 夹紧（某物）
The door pinched my finger as it shut. 关门时把我手指夹住了.
2 [I, Tn] (esp of shoes) hurt (sb) by being too tight （尤指鞋）夹痛（某人）, 夹脚
These new boots pinch (me). （我 觉得）这双新靴子挤脚.
3 [Tn] ~ sth (from sb/sth) (infml 口) take sth without the owner's permission; steal sth 擅自拿走或偷窃某物
He's been pinching money from the cashbox. 他一直在偷钱箱里的钱.
Who's pinched my dictionary? 谁把我的词典拿去了?
4 [Tn esp passive 尤用於被动语态]
(sl 俚) (of the police) catch and arrest (sb) （指警察）捉住, 逮捕（某人）
He was still carrying the stolen goods when he was pinched. 抓住他的时候他身上还带著赃物.
get pinched for driving while drunk 因醉酒开车被逮住.
5 (idm 习语) pinch and `save/`scrape live in a very miserly way 省吃俭用
Her parents pinched and scraped so that she could study singing abroad. 她父母省吃俭用好让她出国学习声乐. Cf 参看 scrimp and save (scrimp).
6 (phr v) pinch sth off/out remove sth by pinching 掐掉某物
pinch out the weak shoots on a plant 掐掉植物上发育不良的芽
pinch off the dead flowers 掐掉凋谢的花. pinch, n
1 act of pinching; painful squeeze 捏; 掐; 拧; 夹; 挤
She gave him a pinch (on the arm) to wake him up. 她掐了他（胳膊）一下, 把他叫醒.
2 as much as can be held between the tips of the thumb and forefinger 能捏住或掐住的量
a pinch of chilli powder 一捏辣椒粉
Put another pinch of tea in the pot. 往茶 里再捏点茶叶.
3 (idm 习语) at a `pinch just possibly, in a case of necessity 必要时
We can get six people round this table at a pinch. 必要时这张桌子可以坐六个人. feel the pinch => feel1. if it ,comes to the `pinch in a case of necessity or in an emergency 必要时; 紧急时
If it comes to the pinch, we shall have to sell the house. 实在不行我们只好把房子卖了. take sth with a pinch of salt think that sth is not likely to be true; not wholly believe sth 认为某事物不大可能属实; 对某事物半信半疑.