[Lexicog] Re: Coinage of 'in a pinch'

[Nick Miller]

Hi,

I'm not sure what you mean by the 'original form'. To my ears as BrE these 
constitute or are part of different phrases:
'We can do it at a pinch' - manage something with difficulty
'I'm in a pinch' - difficult situation
I don't know about origins though.
Nick Miller

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
>> [mailto:lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David K.
>> Barnhart
>> Sent: September 7, 2006 13:52
>> To: lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
>> Subject: [Lexicog] Re: Coinage of 'in a pinch'
>>
>> I just looked in OED.
>>
>> The original form appears to be _at_ (or _on_) _a pinch_ [n. def.
>> 4].
>> The supplement has "Also _in a pinch_." The e.q. (earliest date) for
>> _in a pinch_ appears to be 1903. However, I'll do some search about
>> and post antedatings.
>>
>> Regards,
>> David K. Barnhart, Editor/Publisher
>> The Barnhart DICTIONARY COMPANION
>>



 
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