好词典

pinch

UK //pɪntʃ//US //pɪntʃ//

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。)

同义词:squeeze, nip, steal, swipe, filch

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。)

同义词:squeeze, nip, dash, hardship, difficulty

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。)