cinch

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

cinch, n. [Sp. cincha, fr. L. cingere to gird.].

•  A strong saddle girth, as of canvas.  [1913 Webster]
•  A tight grip.  [1913 Webster]

cinch, v. t. 

•  To put a cinch upon; to girth tightly.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  To get a sure hold upon; to get into a tight place, as for forcing submission.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

cinch, v. i. 

 To perform the action of cinching; to tighten the cinch; -- often with up.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

cinch, n. [Cf. cinch a girth, a tight grip, as v., to get a sure hold upon; perh. so named from the tactics used in the game; also cf. Sp. cinco five (the five spots of the color of the trump being important cards).].

 A variety of auction pitch in which a draw to improve the hand is added, and the five of trumps (called right pedro) and the five of the same color (called left pedro, and ranking between the five and the four of trumps) each count five on the score. Fifty-one points make a game. Called also double pedro and high five.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

cinch, v. t. 

 In the game of cinch, to protect (a trick) by playing a higher trump than the five.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

cinch, n. & v.
--n.
1 colloq. a a sure thing; a certainty. b an easy task.
2 a firm hold.
3 esp. US a girth for a saddle or pack.
--v.tr.
1 a tighten as with a cinch (cinched at the waist with a belt). b secure a grip on.
2 sl. make certain of.
3 esp. US put a cinch (sense 3) on.

Etymology

Sp. cincha

THESAURUS

cinch

affix, afford proof of, anchor, annex, ascertain, assure, attach, babe, back band, backstrap, band, bandage, bearing rein, belay, bellyband, belt, bend, bind, bind up, bit, blinders, blinds, boob, brace, breeching, breeze, bridle, bring home to, bundle, caparison, cavesson, cement, certify, chain, checkrein, cheekpiece, chinband, chump, clamp, clear up, clinch, collar, cramp, credulous person, crownband, crupper, cull, curb, dead-sure thing, decide, demonstrate, determine, dismiss all doubt, do up, dupe, easy mark, easy pickings, easy target, easy thing, engraft, ensure, establish, fall guy, fasten, find out, fish, fix, follow, follow from, fool, gag swivel, get at, gird, girdle, girt, girth, gobe-mouches, graft, grapple, greener, greenhorn, greeny, gudgeon, gull, hackamore, halter, hames, hametugs, harness, have a case, headgear, headstall, hip straps, hold good, hold water, horn, innocent, insure, jaquima, jerk line, jockey, knit, lace, lash, lead-pipe cinch, leadpipe cinch, leash, lines, make certain, make fast, make good, make no doubt, make no mistake, make out, make sure, make sure of, martingale, monkey, moor, nail down, natural, noseband, open-and-shut case, patsy, picnic, pie, piece of cake, pigeon, pipe, plaything, pole strap, pommel, prize sap, prove, prove to be, prove true, pushover, put to, reassure, reins, remove all doubt, ribbons, rope, saddle, sap, saphead, schlemiel, screw up, secure, see that, see to it, set, set at rest, set to, settle, settle the matter, setup, shaft tug, shoo-in, show, side check, sinecure, sitting duck, snaffle, snap, sort out, splice, stirrup, stooge, strap, sucker, surcingle, sure bet, sure card, sure success, sure thing, swaddle, swathe, tack, tackle, tie, tie up, tighten, toy, trappings, trice up, trim, truss, trusting soul, tug, velvet, victim, winker braces, winner, wire, wrap, wrap up, yoke

ROGET THESAURUS

cinch

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Facility

N facility, ease, easiness, capability, feasibility, flexibility, pliancy, smoothness, plain sailing, smooth sailing, straight sailing, mere child's play, holiday task, cinch, smooth water, fair wind, smooth royal road, clear coast, clear stage, tabula rasa, full play, disencumbrance, disentanglement, deoppilation, permission, simplicity, lack of complication, easy, facile, feasible, easily managed, easily accomplished, within reach, accessible, easy of access, for the million, open to, manageable, wieldy, towardly, tractable, submissive, yielding, ductile, suant, pliant, glib, slippery, smooth, on friction wheels, on velvet, unembarrassed, disburdened, unburdened, disencumbered, unencumbered, disembarrassed, exonerated, unloaded, unobstructed, untrammeled, unrestrained, at ease, light, at home with, quite at home, in one's element, in smooth water, skillful, accustomed, easily, readily, smoothly, swimmingly, on easy terms, single-handed, touch and go.