# pinch vs poach

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### pinch
*verb · IPA /pɪnt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #10,254*
To squeeze a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt.

### poach
*verb · IPA /ˈpoʊt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #42,828*
To cook (something) in simmering or very hot liquid (usually water; sometimes wine, broth, or otherwise).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pinch-vs-poach