I. ˈsinch noun
( -es )
Etymology: Spanish cincha, from Latin cingula girdle, girth, from cingere to gird — more at cincture
1. : a strong girth often of braided horsehair or canvas for a pack or saddle
2. : a tight clinched hold or grasp
a cinch on what was going on
3.
a. : a thing accomplished with great ease : a thing obtained or condition attained to very easily
the country's flatness makes cycling a cinch — Israel Shenker
b. : a certainty as indicated : a person or thing sure to do as predicted — often used with an infinitive or dependent clause
not only political naturals but surefire cinches to make newspaper headlines — Andy Logan
it's a cinch that the Blues will win
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to put a cinch or girth on
cinch a horse
: girth
b. : to bind closely : fasten tightly or snugly with or as if with a belt
cinch his arms fast
a waistline cinched with a belt
c. : to get a sure hold on : place (one) in a tight situation, in difficulties, or at a disadvantage
these grafters cinching honest businessmen
d. : to secure firmly : tighten — used with up or on
cinch up your belt
2. : to make utterly certain : guarantee , assure
his speed cinched the victory for his team
this speech by the candidate has cinched his nomination
3. : to tighten (a roll of film) by pulling on the free end while holding the spool
intransitive verb
: to perform the action of cinching : tighten the cinch — often used with up
III. noun
( -es )
Etymology: cinch (I)
: a variety of the card game of all fours in which the players bid for the privilege of naming trump, a draw to improve the hand is permitted, and the five of trumps and of the same-colored suit have special values
IV. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
in the game of cinch : to play a higher trump than the five on (a trick) so that a following player cannot score by playing a five