clutch

clutch
1 verb (I) to hold something or someone tightly, especially because you are frightened, in pain, or do not want to lose something: Tom fell to the ground clutching his stomach. | A woman clutching a baby stole an elderly woman's purse. clutch at phrasal verb
1 (T) to try hard to hold something, especially when you are in a dangerous situation: Suzie clutched desperately at the muddy river bank.
2 clutch at straws to try hard to find a sign of hope or a solution, even when these are not likely to exist, in a difficult or dangerous situation: The doctors are really clutching at straws with this new treatment, but they've tried everything else.
2 noun
1 (C) the pedal 1 (2) that you press with your foot when driving a vehicle in order to change gear 1 (1): let in the clutch/let out the clutch (=put your foot on or take your foot off the clutch)
2 clutches plural the power, influence, or control that someone has: in sb's clutches (=controlled or influenced by someone): Many state organizations fell into the clutches of the Mafia.
3 (singular) a tight hold that someone has on something: I shook myself free of her clutch.
4 a clutch of a small group of similar things: a clutch of eggs/chickens (=a group of eggs which a hen produces at one time, or the chickens born from these eggs)
5 when it comes to the clutch AmE informal when a difficult situation happens: When it comes to the clutch, you can always count on Tom.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Clutch — Жанры Стоунер рок Хардкор Хард рок Фанк метал Блюз рок Годы 1990 настоящее время …   Википедия

  • Clutch — Clutch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Clutched} (kl[u^]cht); p. pr. & vb. n. {Clutching}.] [OE. clucchen. See {Clutch}, n.] 1. To seize, clasp, or grip with the hand, hands, or claws; often figuratively; as, to clutch power. [1913 Webster] A man may set… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Clutch — (kl[u^]ch; 224), n. [OE. cloche, cloke, claw, Scot. clook, cleuck, also OE. cleche claw, clechen, cleken, to seize; cf. AS. gel[ae]ccan (where ge is a prefix) to seize. Cf. {Latch} a catch.] 1. A gripe or clinching with, or as with, the fingers… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Clutch — en concierto en Minneapolis, 2007 Datos generales Origen Germantown, Maryland …   Wikipedia Español

  • clutch — clutch1 or clutch bag [kluch] vt. [ME clucchen < OE clyccan, to clench (infl. in meaning by ME cloke, a claw) < IE * glek (> CLING) < base * gel : see CLIMB] 1. to grasp, seize, or snatch with a hand or claw 2. to grasp or hold… …   English World dictionary

  • clutch — ‘seize’ [14] and clutch of eggs [18] are separate words, although they may ultimately be related. The verb arose in Middle English as a variant of the now obsolete clitch, which came from Old English clyccan ‘bend, clench’. The modern sense of… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • clutch — clutch·man; de·clutch; un·clutch; clutch; …   English syllables

  • clutch — ‘seize’ [14] and clutch of eggs [18] are separate words, although they may ultimately be related. The verb arose in Middle English as a variant of the now obsolete clitch, which came from Old English clyccan ‘bend, clench’. The modern sense of… …   Word origins

  • Clutch — Clutch, v. i. 1. To reach (at something) as if to grasp; to catch or snatch; often followed by at. [1913 Webster] 2. to become too tense or frightened to perform properly; used sometimes with up; as, he clutched up on the exam. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • clutch — vb grasp, grab, *take, seize, snatch Analogous words: capture, *catch: hold, *have, possess, own clutch n *hold, grip, grasp Analogous words: seizing, grabbing, taking (see TAKE) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • clutch — [n] strong hold clamp, clasp, clench, clinch, connection, coupling, grapple, grasp, grip, gripe, link; concept 190 clutch [v] grab, snatch catch, cherish, clasp, clench, clinch, cling to, collar, embrace, fasten, glom*, grapple, grasp, grip,… …   New thesaurus

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”