pinch-hit

verb (used without object), pinch-hit, pinch-hit·ting.

1. Baseball. to serve as a pinch hitter.
2. Informal. to substitute for someone, especially in an emergency.

verb (used with object), pinch-hit, pinch-hit·ting.

3. Baseball. to get, or make (a hit) in pinch-hitting.

noun Baseball.

1. a hit made by a pinch hitter.

verb -hits, -hitting or -hit (intr)

1. baseball to bat as a substitute for the scheduled batter
2. US and Canadian informal to act as a substitute
3. cricket (of a batsman in a limited-overs match) to bat aggressively at the start of an innings in order to take advantage of fielding restrictions