THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Feel the pinch
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
To experience financial pressure because costs are high or income has fallen.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- We began to feel the pinch when our travel costs rose.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
We began to ________ when our travel costs rose.
Show the answer
Feel the pinch — To experience financial pressure because costs are high or income has fallen.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Feel the pinch” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
To experience financial pressure because costs are high or income has fallen.
Compare: We began to feel the pinch when our travel costs rose.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use it conversationally for a household, organisation or business whose budget has become tighter.
More examples in context
- The small theatre felt the pinch after several sponsors withdrew.
- With fewer working hours this month, I am feeling the pinch.
Usage note
It refers to pressure on money, not a literal pinch. Say feel the pinch, including the. Feeling the pinch does not necessarily mean having no money at all.
A short conversation
A: Why are you making lunch at home more often?
B: I am feeling the pinch after the rent increase.
A: Would planning meals together help?
One more practice question
Who is feeling the pinch?
A. Someone whose reduced income makes ordinary expenses harder to afford.
B. Someone whose expenses are fully covered with increasing money to spare.
Check your answer
A. The smaller income creates financial pressure.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.