pinch

pizzicare

Stringere un po’ di pelle fra il pollice e un altro dito, di solito facendo male.

In inglese semplice: To press a little skin between your finger and thumb, usually making it hurt.

• Please do not pinch me.
• She pinched her brother on the arm.
• I pinched myself to check I was awake.

Come si usa: pinch someone on something (He pinched me on the arm.)

Espressioni comuni: pinch someone, pinch my arm, pinch yourself

stringere

Comprimere qualcosa fra due elementi, causando dolore o fastidio.

In inglese semplice: To press something tightly between two things, causing pain or discomfort.

• These shoes pinch my toes.
• The door pinched her finger.
• Does the belt pinch when you sit down?

Sinonimi: squeeze

Espressioni comuni: pinch your toes, pinch a finger, shoes pinch

rubare

Prendere senza permesso qualcosa che appartiene a un’altra persona.

In inglese semplice: To take something that belongs to someone else without permission.

• Someone pinched my bike.
• He pinched a biscuit from the tin.
• Who keeps pinching my pens?

Come si usa: pinch something from someone/something (Someone pinched a pen from my desk.)

Sinonimi: steal, nick

Espressioni comuni: pinch something, pinch a biscuit, pinch my bike

arrestare

Catturare qualcuno e portarlo via come detenuto.

In inglese semplice: To catch someone and take them away as a prisoner.

• The cops pinched him yesterday.
• She got pinched outside the station.
• They pinched the thief before he could escape.

Come si usa: be pinched for something (He was pinched for stealing cars.)

Sinonimi: arrest, catch

Contrari: release

Espressioni comuni: pinch a suspect, get pinched

opprimere

Mettere qualcuno in difficoltà lasciandolo senza abbastanza denaro, cibo o spazio.

In inglese semplice: To cause difficulty or suffering by leaving someone without enough money, food, or space.

• Hunger pinched the whole village.
• The family was pinched for money.
• Higher rents pinched the poorest workers hardest.

Come si usa: be pinched for something (We were pinched for money that winter.)

Sinonimi: squeeze, oppress

Espressioni comuni: pinch the poor, pinch for money

pizzico

Quantità molto piccola di qualcosa, soprattutto quella che si prende fra due dita.

In inglese semplice: A very small amount of something.

• Add a pinch of salt.
• The soup needs another pinch of pepper.
• She stirred a pinch of cinnamon into her coffee.

Come si usa: a pinch of something (Add a pinch of pepper.)

Sinonimi: dash

Espressioni comuni: a pinch of, pinch of salt, pinch of pepper, pinch of sugar

pizzicotto

Atto di stringere qualcosa fra il pollice e un altro dito.

In inglese semplice: An act of pressing something between your finger and thumb.

• She gave my arm a pinch.
• A gentle pinch tested the softness of the fabric.
• He felt a sharp pinch on his cheek.

Come si usa: give something a pinch (Give the dough a pinch to test its softness.)

Sinonimi: squeeze

Espressioni comuni: a gentle pinch, a painful pinch, give a pinch

difficoltà, situazione difficile

Situazione complicata in cui serve aiuto o una soluzione rapida.

In inglese semplice: A difficult situation in which you need help or a quick solution.

• Call me if you are in a pinch.
• In a pinch, a spoon works as a small shovel.
• At a pinch, this room could hold twelve people.

Come si usa: in a pinch (You can use yogurt in a pinch.); at a pinch (At a pinch, we could sleep in the car.)

Sinonimi: tight spot, difficulty

Espressioni comuni: in a pinch, at a pinch