jaw clenched
1
6.4
- adjective
:
mandíbula apretada
- His jaw was clenched tightly as he tried to control his anger during the heated discussion.
- jaw clenched in anger
- jaw clenched tight
- jaw clenched tightly
Examples
-
Jaw clenched tightly, Han began collecting his data cards together.
Fiction book (1991) -
"His jaw clenched, and his anger smoldered just under the surface of his words.
Fiction book (1990) -
His jaw clenched, and he suddenly felt short of breath.
Fiction book (1992) -
"Good job," Brian managed to say while his jaw clenched and unclenched.
Fiction book (1990) -
The boy's jaw clenched, and his eyes grew rounder in alarm.
Fiction book (1990) -
"Mercer's jaw clenched with determination."
Fiction book (2000) -
The Dude drives, his jaw clenched, staring grimly out at the road.
Fiction book (1998) -
"He cautiously lowered himself back into his chair, jaw clenched and knuckles white on the head of his cane.
Fiction book (2002) -
Jaw clenched in anger at the still unidentified bastard who had unleashed the virus, he grabbed the newspaper.
Fiction book (2002) -
Jaw clenched with new resolve, she pushed the errant memories away and peered through the slit in the brocade.
Fiction book (2002)
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'jaw' (mouth/jaw) combined with 'clenched' (tightly closed or squeezed) yields the clear image of the jaw being tightly closed, typically from anger or stress. This adjective + past-participle pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Jaw clenched paints a picture of someone's jaw and teeth pressed tight, so clenched, because they feel 'angry' or 'stressed'. That's why the phrase shows a person is feeling 'tense' or trying not to show their feelings.