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at a pinch

UK (US in a pinch)

Definition

Something that you can do at a pinch can be done if it is really necessary, but it will be difficult, not perfect, or not what you would really like: I need £2,000 to set up the business, but I suppose £1,500 would do at a pinch.Merely and barelyAlmost
(Definition of at a pinch from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)