(Australia, New Zealand, Britain, informal, idiomatic) by a small margin or amount
Synonyms: by the skin of one's teeth, only just
(idiomatic) In an urgent or difficult situation; when no other solution is available.
Source: en.wiktionary.orgA friend who cannot at a pinch remember a thing or two that never happened is as bad as one who does not know how to forget. Samuel Butler (novelist)
A penny at a pinch is worth a pound. Romanian Proverb