Expression: "With a pinch"

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi

How do we hold something that is dirty–with a pinch or in a pinch?

Do you find the following sentence correct and natural?

Thanks,

Tom

2

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No, neither option makes sense. Perhaps you mean pick up ‘with repulsion’ or ‘squeamishly’?
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3

Thanks, MM

but sometimes we do hold something dirty with the thumb and forefinger–which is why I used the word pinch.

Please shed some light on it.

Thanks again

Tom

4

IMHO, “with a pinch” sounds strange and “in a pinch” would mean “in an emergency”.

5

Pinch the edges of the pastry together to seal it. - pinch is a verb here, but it means ‘to press’, not ‘to take’, so I am not sure if you can use it here. I think you should settle on with the thumb and forefinger :). In Russian we also can say it ‘with two/three fingers’.

6

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OK-- how about this, Tom? “Please pick up the mop gingerly and throw it out.”
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