fine in a pinch?

[Torsten]

What exactly does this idiom mean: "This works fine in a pinch". I understand that it means that something might not be ideal but will just be sufficient to do a certain a job?

TOEIC listening, question-response: You couldn't finish the report by tomorrow, could you?

[Alan]

Hi Torsten

Yes, it has the idea of something that just about does the job. If you are trying to find/buy something but you can't find exactly what you want but you come across something that's adequate but not perfect, you would say: That'll do at a pinch. I know it best as 'at a pinch'.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Yankee]

.
Interesting. That's another difference in BE vs AmE usage. "At a pinch" sounds odd to my American ears.

pinch
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln