to clutch
118
3.4
- verb
- /klʌtʃ/
:
agarrar
- The little boy was frightened during the storm and clutched his teddy bear tightly for comfort.
- clutch the hand
- clutch the arm
- clutch one's heart
A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
- A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
- Now that you say that he he died clutching his cross is Catholic, I think.
- Sorry to give lift to the caffeine addicts out there as I as I clutch my my mug.
- And these are still the people today, the descendants of these people that are now clutching their pearls about DEI.
- I had my backpack sort of clutch to me and he wanted my he, you know, he wanted all my money and my, my phone and stuff.
- Having her walking around Italy like clutching this, it looks like a a throw pillow that you put on a couch over her bare breasts.
- Oh, look at your hands clutching the the nice.
Examples
-
In her moment of agony, she clutches a branch of a tree and is supported by her sister.
Academic text (2006) -
A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
-
You know... you clutch that bag like it was an appendage.
-
I was just clutching the thing for my life.
-
Instead, she said not a word and clutched the phone as she waited.
Fiction book (1990) -
Alex T clutches the first aid kit and runs away.
-
Imagine now that you're the woman clutching your purse.
-
The boy reached for the stock, faltered, and clutched at the trunk with his good arm.
Fiction book (1990) -
"Alvin," she says and wraps her arms around his head, clutching him against her chest.
Fiction book (1990) -
Settling on her heels, she clutched a mittenful of snow and slapped it into his face.
Fiction book (1990)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To take hold of something quickly with your hand
277
3.2
To take control of a place or person quickly, often by force
240
2.1
To hold on tightly to someone or something and not let go
180
3.0
To keep something and not let it go
141
2.0
To keep a strong grip on something so it does not fall
119
1.6
To press something firmly with your hand or fingers
70
3.5
To squeeze something tightly with your hands or teeth
42
2.2
Grab something firmly with your hands to stay safe
33
2.6
To hold a person or thing tightly with your hands
21
3.1
Grab something or someone with your hands
15
2.0
To grasp something with your hands
6
4.8
To hold someone tightly, for example in a fight or a hug
1
1.4
Keep a person or thing tightly against your body
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
1
3.9
A pedal in a car you press to disconnect the engine so you can change gears
- Specialized
A machine part with cone-shaped surfaces that use rubbing to let power pass between two shafts
- Specialized
A clutch with cone shaped friction surfaces that connects two rotating shafts
- Specialized
A device in which flat disks press together to send power between moving parts
- Specialized
A device that uses rubbing between two surfaces to transfer power when changing gears
- Specialized
A device that lets a machine part move when too much force would damage the machine
- Specialized
A device that lets moving parts slide when twisting force is too high to protect machines
How Tightly
Surface Forms
Etymology
Clutch as a verb comes from the old English clyccan meaning 'to grasp' or 'to hold tight', like the familiar word clench. To clutch something is simply to hold it tightly or suddenly.