pinch at (someone or something)
pinch at (someone or something)
1. To pinch someone or something multiple times. My grandmother always pinches at my cheeks whenever she sees me. The personal trainer started pinching at me to see where I could stand to lose the most weight.
2. To cause someone constant or continued irritation or emotional disruption. I've had insecurity and self-doubt pinching at me ever since high school. Her scornful parting words pinched at him as he rode the train to Stockholm.
3. obsolete To find fault or exception with someone or something. I would not take her words to heart. The baroness is always pinching at someone for some issue or another.
See also: pinch
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- pinch off
- pinch for
- tweak (something) off of (something)
- a pinch and a punch for the first of the month
- where the shoe pinches
- put the roses in (one's) cheeks
- stinger
- punch
- pinch hitter
- pinch one off