I.
noun
1 sb/sth's clutches sb/sth's power/control
VERB + CLUTCHES
▪ fall into
▪
She fell into the ~es of the rebel forces.
▪ escape , escape from
PREPOSITION
▪ in sb's ~
▪
They had him in their ~es.
▪ out of sb's ~
▪
Once she was out of their ~es, she fled across the border.
2 in a car
VERB + CLUTCH
▪ drop ( AmE ), engage , put your foot on
▪ disengage , let out , pop ( AmE ), release , take your foot off
▪
Put it into first gear and let the ~ out slowly.
CLUTCH + VERB
▪ engage
▪ disengage
▪ slip
CLUTCH + NOUN
▪ pedal
II.
verb
ADVERB
▪ firmly , tightly
▪ desperately
▪ suddenly
PREPOSITION
▪ at
▪
He felt himself slipping and ~ed at a branch.
PHRASES
▪ ~ sth in your hand
▪
She ~ed her handbag tightly in one hand.
▪ ~ sth to your chest
▪
She ~ed the letter to her chest.
Clutch is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑ arm , ↑ hand
Clutch is used with these nouns as the object: ↑ arm , ↑ bag , ↑ blanket , ↑ chest , ↑ edge , ↑ hand , ↑ handbag , ↑ head , ↑ purse , ↑ stomach , ↑ suitcase