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Expression: "With a pinch"



 
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Expression: "With a pinch" #1 (permalink) Wed Jun 04, 2008 17:13 pm   Expression: "With a pinch"
 

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?

Quote:
Please pick up the mop in/ with a pinch and throw it out.


Thanks,

Tom
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Expression: "With a pinch" #2 (permalink) Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:23 am   Expression: "With a pinch"
 

.
No, neither option makes sense. Perhaps you mean pick up 'with repulsion' or 'squeamishly'?
.
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Expression: "With a pinch" #3 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 19:17 pm   Expression: "With a pinch"
 

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
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Expression: "With a pinch" #4 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 20:20 pm   Expression: "With a pinch"
 

IMHO, "with a pinch" sounds strange and "in a pinch" would mean "in an emergency".
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Expression: "With a pinch" #5 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:30 am   Expression: "With a pinch"
 

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'.
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Expression: "With a pinch" #6 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 23:21 pm   Expression: "With a pinch"
 

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