How do you use "Pinched" in a sentence?

He got pinched for shoplifting at the mall. The whole crew got pinched during the raid. If we're not careful, we're gonna get pinched.

Pinched

Q: What does "Pinched" mean?

To be arrested or caught by the police. Old-school American crime slang for getting arrested. 'Getting pinched' implies being caught in the act. Has a somewhat vintage, film noir quality. Still used in crime dramas and by older speakers.

American Slang Term American ★★★☆☆ Moderate Casual

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Meaning: To be arrested or caught by the police.

被警察逮捕或抓住。

Ser detenido o pillado por la policía.

警察に逮捕される、捕まること。

경찰에 체포되거나 잡히는 것.

Old-school American crime slang for getting arrested. 'Getting pinched' implies being caught in the act. Has a somewhat vintage, film noir quality. Still used in crime dramas and by older speakers.

美国老派犯罪俚语，指被逮捕。'get pinched'暗示被当场抓获。带有一种复古的黑色电影风格。至今仍在犯罪剧和老一辈人中使用。

Argot antiguo del mundo criminal estadounidense para referirse a ser arrestado. 'Getting pinched' implica ser pillado en el acto. Tiene un toque vintage, de cine negro. Todavía se usa en series policíacas y entre hablantes de mayor edad.

逮捕を意味する古典的なアメリカの犯罪スラング。「getting pinched」は現行犯で捕まることを含意する。フィルム・ノワール的なやや古風な雰囲気がある。犯罪ドラマや年配の話者にはまだ使われている。

체포를 뜻하는 옛날식 미국 범죄 슬랭이다. 'pinch 당하다'는 현행범으로 잡힌다는 뉘앙스가 있다. 필름 누아르적인 느낌이 있으며, 범죄 드라마나 나이 든 세대가 여전히 사용한다.

Examples

He got pinched for shoplifting at the mall.
他在商场里因为偷东西被抓了。
Lo trincaron por robar en el centro comercial.
モールで万引きして捕まった。
쇼핑몰에서 좀도둑질하다가 잡혔다.
The whole crew got pinched during the raid.
突击搜查时整个团伙都被一锅端了。
Trincaron a toda la banda durante la redada.
ガサ入れで仲間全員が逮捕された。
급습 때 동료 전원이 체포됐다.
If we're not careful, we're gonna get pinched.
要是我们不小心点，都得被逮进去。
Si no tenemos cuidado, nos van a trincar.
気をつけないと俺たちもパクられるぞ。
조심하지 않으면 우리도 잡힐 거야.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: crime stories, police encounters, film noir

Tone: anxious, resigned

✓ Do Say

He got pinched.
他被抓了。
Lo trincaron.
あいつは捕まった。
그 녀석 잡혔어.
Don't get pinched.
别被逮到了。
Que no te trinquen.
パクられるなよ。
잡히지 마.

✗ Don't Say

Somewhat dated — younger speakers might say 'busted' or 'caught.'
这个说法比较老派——年轻人更多会说'busted'或'caught'。
Algo anticuado: los jóvenes dirían más bien 'busted' o 'caught'.
やや古い表現——若い世代は「busted」や「caught」と言うかもしれない。
다소 구식 표현이다 — 젊은 세대는 'busted'나 'caught'를 더 많이 쓴다.

Origin & History

From 1830s American slang. 'Pinch' meaning to seize or grab, extended to mean arrested (seized by police).

Cultural Context

Era: 1830s–present

Generation: Boomers, Gen X

Social background: Working class / Street culture

Regional notes: All regions — especially Northeast