A: The opening ceremony is just half an hour away. Hurry up! B: Sorry, but I need three more minutes. What color of lipstick do you think matches my dress? A: How about salmon? B: This shade of lipstick will do in a pinch — it’s better than nothing. Note: This idiom is used when something ideal or preferred is not available and something else has to be used as a substitute. It literally means “when hard-pressed.” The British version of this expression, “at a pinch,” dates from the 15th century. |