How do you use "Pinch" in a sentence?

Someone pinched my lunch from the fridge. He got pinched for tax evasion. Stop pinching office supplies!

Pinch

Q: What does "Pinch" mean?

To steal; also to arrest. Like 'nick,' pinch means both to steal and to be arrested. 'I got pinched' = I was arrested.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: To steal; also to arrest.

偷；逮捕

robar; también arrestar

盗む、逮捕する

훔치다; 체포하다

Like 'nick,' pinch means both to steal and to be arrested. 'I got pinched' = I was arrested.

和'nick'一样，pinch既表示偷，也表示被逮捕。'I got pinched'=我被逮捕了。

Como 'nick', pinch significa tanto robar como ser arrestado. 'I got pinched' = me arrestaron.

「nick」と同様に、pinchは盗むことと逮捕されることの両方を意味する。「I got pinched」=逮捕された。

'nick'과 마찬가지로 pinch도 훔치다와 체포되다 두 가지 뜻이 있다. 'I got pinched' = 체포됐다.

Literal meaning: Grab between fingers (steal)

Examples

Someone pinched my lunch from the fridge.
有人从冰箱偷了我的午餐
Alguien me robó el almuerzo de la nevera
誰かが冷蔵庫から私の昼食を盗んだ
누가 냉장고에서 내 점심을 훔쳐 갔다.
He got pinched for tax evasion.
他因逃税被捕了
Lo pillaron por evasión fiscal
彼は脱税で捕まった
그는 탈세로 체포됐다.
Stop pinching office supplies!
别再偷办公用品了！
¡Deja de robar material de oficina!
事務用品を盗むのをやめろ！
사무용품 좀 그만 훔쳐!

Pronunciation

/pɪntʃ/

Usage Guide

Context: stealing, arrest, petty theft

Tone: casual, slightly playful

✓ Do Say

Someone pinched it.
有人偷了
Alguien lo robó
誰かが盗んだ
누가 훔쳐갔어
Got pinched.
被捕了
Lo pillaron
捕まった
잡혔어
Who pinched my pen?
谁拿了我的笔？
¿Quién me ha robado el boli?
誰がペンを盗んだ？
누가 내 펜 훔쳤어?

✗ Don't Say

Stole it
Stole it（偷了）
Stole it（Lo robó）
Stole it（盗んだ）
Stole it (훔쳤다)
Was arrested
Was arrested（被逮捕）
Was arrested（Fue arrestado）
Was arrested（逮捕された）
Was arrested (체포됐다)

Common Mistakes

Can sound less serious than 'steal'
Often used for minor theft

Origin & History

From the motion of pinching/grabbing something small.

Etymology: British slang

First recorded: 19th century

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: British crime drama; Common slang

Regional notes: Common in both British and American English.

Variations

PinchPinchedGot pinched