# If I said I was going to "pinch a loaf", would you know what I was talking about? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2013, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-said-i-was-going-to-pinch-a-loaf-would-you-know-what-i-was-talking-about/676699 "2013-12-19T06:33:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-said-i-was-going-to-pinch-a-loaf-would-you-know-what-i-was-talking-about/676699/61 "2014-05-13T13:37:41Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > “Talking to a man about a horse” is one way express the same idea. I always heard that to mean “take a leak.” ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-said-i-was-going-to-pinch-a-loaf-would-you-know-what-i-was-talking-about/676699/62 "2014-05-13T13:49:39Z")
You’d be going to lay some cable. Take the Browns to the Superbowl. Drop some friends off at the pool. ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-said-i-was-going-to-pinch-a-loaf-would-you-know-what-i-was-talking-about/676699/63 "2014-05-15T04:05:26Z")
“To pinch” something is to steal it. “See a man about a horse” I’ve heard, but none of the other expressions. Why is it necessary to explain, and what is the point of cute expressions? ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-said-i-was-going-to-pinch-a-loaf-would-you-know-what-i-was-talking-about/676699/64 "2014-05-15T05:27:41Z")
Back one out (beep, beep, beep…). Crowning. Make some room. Yes, I have used Pinch a loaf, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-said-i-was-going-to-pinch-a-loaf-would-you-know-what-i-was-talking-about/676699/65 "2014-05-15T15:40:09Z")
Yes…I learned it from Beavis and Butt-head. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-said-i-was-going-to-pinch-a-loaf-would-you-know-what-i-was-talking-about/676699/66 "2014-05-15T17:15:23Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > The phrase alone would mean steal some bread, to me, … I’ve never interpreted the “_pinch_” part as anything other than the physical process of severing the end of a fragrant loaf. I believe it follows the same lines as why some folks refer to the sphincter as a “_turd clipper_.” Now if you’ll excuse me I’m feeling a sense of urgency and must leave to… ummm… _go pump out a grumpy_. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-said-i-was-going-to-pinch-a-loaf-would-you-know-what-i-was-talking-about/676699/67 "2014-05-16T12:17:36Z")
I was wondering about the phrase whilst having a tom tit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-said-i-was-going-to-pinch-a-loaf-would-you-know-what-i-was-talking-about/676699.md?page=3)