at a pinch

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

at a ˈpinch idiom
(BrE) (NAmE in a ˈpinch)used to say that sth could be done or used in a particular situation if it is really necessary
•We can get six people round this table at a pinch.
•The recipe is for beef, but at a pinch you could use chicken.
Main entry: ↑pinch_idiom