I. clutch 1 /klʌtʃ/ BrE AmE verb
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: clyccan ]
1 . [transitive] to hold something tightly because you do not want to lose it SYN grip , grasp :
She was clutching a bottle of champagne.
2 . [intransitive and transitive] ( also clutch at somebody/something )
a) to suddenly take hold of someone or something because you are frightened, in pain, or in danger SYN grab :
He clutched at a pillar for support.
Tom fell to the ground clutching his stomach.
b) clutch at sb’s heart if something clutches at your heart, you suddenly feel fear or nervousness
3 . be clutching at straws especially British English to be trying everything possible to find a solution or hope in a difficult situation, even though it will probably be unsuccessful:
I knew that trying the alternative medicine was just clutching at straws.
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THESAURUS
▪ hold to have something in your hand, hands, or arms:
Maria came in holding a letter.
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Can I hold the baby?
▪ grip to hold something very tightly and not let it go:
He gripped her arm so she couldn’t walk away.
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Jenny gripped the side of the boat to steady herself.
▪ clutch to hold something tightly, especially because you do not want to drop or lose it:
A businessman hurried past, clutching his briefcase.
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The little girl clutched onto his hand.
▪ clasp written to hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them:
She was clasping a bunch of small summer flowers.
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He clasped her in his arms and kissed her.
▪ get/take hold of something to take something in your hand or hands and hold it:
I took hold of the handle and pulled as hard as I could.
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Quickly – try and get hold of that frog!
▪ grasp written to take hold of something firmly, especially in a determined way:
She grasped the lowest branch and pulled herself up into the tree.
▪ grab to take hold of something suddenly and often violently:
He grabbed my bag and ran off with it.
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The other man grabbed hold of (=suddenly took hold of ) my arms and threatened me with a knife.
▪ seize /siːz/ written to take hold of something suddenly and often violently:
A police officer ran after him and seized the gun.
▪ hang on (to something) to hold on to something or someone tightly to support yourself:
He hung on to the rail at the back of the motorbike.
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Hang on tight!
▪ keep hold of something to continue to hold something:
Greg was struggling to keep hold of the dog.
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She tried to take her hand away but he kept hold of it.
II. clutch 2 BrE AmE noun
[ Sense 1-2,4: Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ clutch 1 ]
[ Sense 3: Date: 1700-1800 ; Origin: cletch 'clutch' (17-19 centuries) , from cleck 'to hatch' (15-19 centuries) , from Old Norse klekja ]
1 . [countable] the ↑ pedal that you press with your foot when driving a vehicle in order to change ↑ gear , or the part of the vehicle that this controls
2 . sb’s clutches [plural] the power, influence, or control that someone has:
a small boy trying to escape from his mother’s clutches
in sb’s clutches
She’ll have him in her clutches soon enough.
3 . clutch of something a small group of similar things:
a clutch of eggs (=the number of eggs laid by a bird at one time)
a clutch of young mothers
4 . [singular] a tight hold that someone has on something SYN grip , grasp :
I shook myself free of her clutch.