to pinch at

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Pinch \Pinch\, v. i.
   1. To act with pressing force; to compress; to squeeze; as,
      the shoe pinches.
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   2. (Hunt.) To take hold; to grip, as a dog does. [Obs.]
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   3. To spare; to be niggardly; to be covetous. --Gower.
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            The wretch whom avarice bids to pinch and spare.
                                                  --Franklin.
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   {To pinch at}, to find fault with; to take exception to.
      [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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