
pinch
词源
源自古英语 'pynčan',可能源自原始日耳曼语,与荷兰语 'pinken'(眨眼)和德语 'pintshen'(捏)有关。
verb
❶ 用拇指和食指捏住或挤压某物,通常指用力夹紧的动作。可以表示轻微疼痛或惩罚行为。
“She pinched her little brother when he wouldn't stop teasing her.”
(当弟弟不停捉弄她时,她捏了他一下。)
“The new shoes pinch my toes when I walk.”
(这双新鞋走路时会夹我的脚趾。)
❶ 偷窃,尤指趁人不注意时拿走小件物品。多用于非正式场合描述小偷小摸行为。
“Someone pinched my wallet on the crowded bus.”
(有人在拥挤的公交车上偷走了我的钱包。)
“He got caught pinching sweets from the corner shop.”
(他从街角小店偷糖果时被抓住了。)
noun
❶ 捏的动作或感觉,通常指用拇指和食指夹住的动作。也可指因鞋子太紧等造成的挤压感。
“She gave his arm a playful pinch.”
(她顽皮地捏了一下他的胳膊。)
“I felt a sharp pinch when the nurse gave me the injection.”
(护士给我打针时我感到一阵尖锐的刺痛。)
❶ 困境或紧缺状态,尤指经济上的困难时期。常用于形容财务压力或资源不足的情况。
“Many families are feeling the pinch during the economic crisis.”
(经济危机期间许多家庭都感到拮据。)
“The budget cuts have put schools in a pinch.”
(预算削减使学校陷入困境。)
常见短语
in a pinch — 在紧急情况下,当没有更好的选择时,可以临时凑合使用某物或某种方法。
“A pencil will do in a pinch if you don't have a pen.”
(如果没有钢笔,铅笔也可以临时凑合使用。)
take sth with a pinch of salt — 对听到的信息持怀疑态度,不完全相信。表示需要谨慎看待某些说法或主张。
“You should take his promises with a pinch of salt.”
(你对他的承诺应该持保留态度。)