How to Use in a pinch in a Sentence

in a pinch

idiom
  • At just over 93 pounds, it can be moved in a pinch as well.
    Kathleen Willcox, Popular Mechanics, 24 Jan. 2023
  • Driving to the park in the 2000s, Nevin called to say Bochy had asked him to catch for the team in a pinch.
    Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2023
  • Just a ball and, in a pinch, wadded up socks or paper will do.
    Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, 18 July 2023
  • Toss some in your gloves or boots in a pinch and avoid the dangers of frostbite.
    Collin Morgan, Car and Driver, 4 Jan. 2023
  • Whole milk: Use whole milk (or 2% in a pinch) for a rich, creamy texture.
    Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2023
  • The rug is stain-resistant but very easy to spot clean in a pinch.
    Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 1 June 2024
  • Tin Tin flubs it on that last part, giving up the name at the Ministry in a pinch.
    Andy Andersen, Vulture, 29 Feb. 2024
  • The battery pack lasts for up to 10 hours and can also be used to charge your phone in a pinch.
    Isabel Garcia, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024
  • Give it a swirl with your stirrer (or a pretzel stick in a pinch).
    Emily Price, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
  • And in a pinch, it can even be used as a shawl to keep you warm during a longhaul flight.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2023
  • And hey, in a pinch, that Arby's French dip still has its pleasures.
    Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 30 July 2024
  • The big guy with the bushy beard was as good a potential coach-in-waiting as the Buffs could’ve found in a pinch.
    Sean Keeler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Nov. 2023
  • Sporting has mixed up its formations in a pinch in the past.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2024
  • Princess Diana knew just what to do to help a fellow mother in a pinch.
    Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2024
  • On The Acolyte, haircut via lightsaber seems great in a pinch, but won’t people notice the charred ends of Mae’s locs?
    Keisha Hatchett, TVLine, 28 June 2024
  • So these aren’t heated gloves per se, but these fleece mitts are a way of keeping warm in a pinch.
    Danny Perez, Popular Mechanics, 9 Dec. 2022
  • These boots lean more casual, but with the right outfit, can be dressed up in a pinch.
    Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
  • Whip up single-serving smoothies and juices in a pinch with this easy-to-use blender.
    John Thompson, Men's Health, 13 Dec. 2022
  • This is a stand that can probably be set up by two people in a pinch.
    Travis Smola, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023
  • Though in a pinch, Baker could look to give Whitley a one-start trial.
    Michael Shapiro, Chron, 2 May 2023
  • And like Skiba — who was first hired to briefly fill in for DeLonge — Willard has manned the kit for other acts in a pinch.
    Courtney Devores, Charlotte Observer, 28 Feb. 2024
  • Roomy enough for a quartet of adults (or five in a pinch for short rides) its huge back seat is limousine-like for kids.
    Brett Berk, Good Housekeeping, 4 Apr. 2023
  • Protect an in-ground lemon tree from a freeze by wrapping it in frost cloth or, in a pinch, blankets.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2024
  • And don’t forget about the classic glow of candles, which can work just about anywhere in a pinch.
    Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024
  • All your apps are either too slow or too cumbersome to whip open in a pinch.
    Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 3 May 2024
  • The 1-liter capacity is more than enough for one person and can even serve two in a pinch.
    Chris Meehan, Popular Mechanics, 26 June 2023
  • Pickling is best done with fresh strawberries, but frozen can be used in a pinch.
    Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 12 May 2024
  • Use a high-quality sausage like Neese's (tho Jimmy Dean's ok in a pinch).
    Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2023
  • It can be worn out as a dressy dinner outfit, by the pool, or even as pajamas in a pinch.
    Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024
  • But in a pinch, the sharper-tasting white or sweeter Vidalia onions could be used.
    Jessica Harlan, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in a pinch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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