clutch
/klʌtʃ/To hold something tightly, usually because you are afraid, nervous, or in danger. It can also mean to grip and keep hold of something firmly.
- She clutched her bag on the crowded bus.
- He clutched the child tightly.
A device in a vehicle that connects and disconnects the engine from the gears. You use it when changing gear in a manual car.
- The clutch is hard to press in this car.
- He learned to drive a manual car with a clutch.
Very useful or important at a key moment, especially when success depends on it. This is common in sports and informal speech.
- She made a clutch save in the final minute.
- That was a clutch shot under pressure.
Adinary Nuance
Clutch is close to grasp, grab, and hold, but it often suggests a tighter, more urgent grip. Grab can be quick and casual, while clutch often feels stronger and more emotional. In modern speech, clutch as an adjective means 'important at the key moment', especially in sports or games.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nắm chặt
- Spanish
- agarrar
- Chinese
- 抓紧
- Japanese
- つかむ
- Korean
- 꽉 쥐다
Etymology
Clutch comes from Old English *clyccan*, meaning 'to grasp or seize'. The car meaning appeared later, in the early 20th century, as vehicles developed.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is clutch formal or informal?
- The verb and noun are neutral. The adjective meaning 'important at a key moment' is informal.
- What is the difference between clutch and grab?
- Grab is quick and simple. Clutch suggests a tighter, stronger hold, often with emotion or fear.
- Does clutch only mean a part of a car?
- No. It also means to hold tightly, and it can describe an important moment in sports or games.
- Can I use clutch in IELTS writing?
- The car noun is fine in technical writing. The adjective is usually too informal for academic writing.