- 1[transitive, intransitive] to hold someone or something tightly synonym grip clutch something (+ adv./prep.) He clutched the child to him. She stood there, the flowers still clutched in her hand. + adv./prep. I clutched on to the chair for support Thesaurushold
- hold on
- cling
- clutch
- grip
- grasp
- clasp
- hang on
- hold to have something or someone in your hand or arms:She was holding a large box. I held the baby gently in my arms.
- hold on (to somebody/something) to continue to hold something or someone; to put your hand on something or someone and not take your hand away:Hold on and don't let go until I say so.
- cling to hold on to something or someone tightly, especially with your whole body:Survivors clung to pieces of floating debris.
- clutch to hold something or someone tightly, especially in your hand; to take hold of something suddenly:She stood there, the flowers still clutched in her hand. He felt himself slipping and clutched at a branch.
- grip to hold on to something very tightly with your hand:Grip the rope as tightly as you can.
- grasp to take hold of something firmly:He grasped my hand and shook it warmly.
- clasp (formal) to hold something or someone tightly in your hand or in your arms:They clasped hands (= held each other's hands). She clasped the children to her breast. The object of clasp is often your hands, someone else's hand, or another person.
- hang on (to something) to hold on to something very tightly, especially in order to support yourself or stop yourself from falling:Hang on to the safety rope in case you slip and fall.
- to hold/clutch/grip/clasp something in your hand/hands
- to hold/clasp somebody/something in your arms
- to hold/hang on to something
- to hold/cling/hang on
- to hold/clutch/clasp somebody/something to you
- to hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp/hang on to somebody/something tightly
- to hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp somebody/something firmly
- to hold/hold on to/clutch/grip/clasp/hang on to somebody/something tight
- 2[transitive, intransitive] to take hold of something suddenly, because you are afraid or in pain clutch something He gasped and clutched his stomach. clutch at somebody/something (figurative) Fear clutched at her heart. Thesaurushold
- hold on
- cling
- clutch
- grip
- grasp
- clasp
- hang on
- hold to have something or someone in your hand or arms:She was holding a large box. I held the baby gently in my arms.
- hold on (to somebody/something) to continue to hold something or someone; to put your hand on something or someone and not take your hand away:Hold on and don't let go until I say so.
- cling to hold on to something or someone tightly, especially with your whole body:Survivors clung to pieces of floating debris.
- clutch to hold something or someone tightly, especially in your hand; to take hold of something suddenly:She stood there, the flowers still clutched in her hand. He felt himself slipping and clutched at a branch.
- grip to hold on to something very tightly with your hand:Grip the rope as tightly as you can.
- grasp to take hold of something firmly:He grasped my hand and shook it warmly.
- clasp (formal) to hold something or someone tightly in your hand or in your arms:They clasped hands (= held each other's hands). She clasped the children to her breast. The object of clasp is often your hands, someone else's hand, or another person.
- hang on (to something) to hold on to something very tightly, especially in order to support yourself or stop yourself from falling:Hang on to the safety rope in case you slip and fall.
- to hold/clutch/grip/clasp something in your hand/hands
- to hold/clasp somebody/something in your arms
- to hold/hang on to something
- to hold/cling/hang on
- to hold/clutch/clasp somebody/something to you
- to hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp/hang on to somebody/something tightly
- to hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp somebody/something firmly
- to hold/hold on to/clutch/grip/clasp/hang on to somebody/something tight
Idioms
clutch
verbNAmE//klʌtʃ//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they clutch he / she / it clutches
past simple clutched
-ing form clutching
to try all possible means to find a solution or some hope in a difficult or unpleasant situation, even though this seems very unlikely I know I'm just clutching at straws here, but is it possible that the doctors are wrong? Phrasal Verbsclutch
Check pronunciation: clutch