cling to something ( also cling on to something ) phrasal verb ( see also ↑ cling )
1 . to continue to believe or do something, even though it may not be true or useful any longer
cling to the hope/belief/idea etc (that)
He clung to the hope that she would be cured.
2 . to stay in a position of power or stay ahead, when this is difficult, or to try to do this:
an attempt to cling to power