# clutch

/ˈkɫətʃ/ (US) · /klˈʌtʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clutch
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to grip tightly

verb · CEFR B2

to hold something very tightly, often because you are nervous, in pain, or afraid.

For teachers: to grasp or seize something tightly and eagerly, often as a result of fear, anxiety, or physical distress.

- She clutched her bag tightly as she walked through the crowded station.
- The survivor clutched the railing with white-knuckled intensity, refusing to let go until the rescue team reached the platform.

### 2. car part

noun · CEFR B2

the pedal or part in a car that you use when changing gears.

For teachers: a mechanism for connecting and disconnecting a vehicle's engine from its transmission system.

- You need to press the clutch down fully before you change gears.
- The driver felt the clutch slipping during the steep ascent, suggesting that the friction plates were severely worn.

Usage: In British English, it usually refers to the pedal; in technical contexts, it refers to the internal plates.

### 3. a small handbag

noun · CEFR B2

a small, flat handbag without handles, usually carried at formal events.

For teachers: a slim, strapless handbag designed to be held in the hand or under the arm.

- She chose a silver clutch to match her evening dress for the wedding.
- The celebrity posed on the red carpet, holding a designer clutch that contained only her phone and a lipstick.

### 4. a group

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a small group of people or things.

For teachers: a collective noun for a group of things or people, or a hatch of eggs.

- A clutch of reporters waited outside the courthouse for the verdict.
- The hen sat patiently on her clutch of eggs, ignoring the noise from the nearby farm machinery.

### 5. power or control

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

the power or control that someone has over you, usually in a bad way.

For teachers: the grasp or control of someone, typically perceived as predatory, cruel, or inescapable.

- The hero managed to escape from the villain's clutches just in time.
- The small nation struggled to free its economy from the clutches of the international banking conglomerate.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form 'clutches'.

### 6. successful under pressure

adjective · CEFR C1 · American English · Slang

describing a person or action that succeeds in a very difficult, high-pressure moment.

For teachers: denoting a person or performance that is successful in a critical or high-stakes situation.

- He made a clutch shot in the final seconds to win the game.
- The quarterback's clutch performance in the fourth quarter secured the team's place in the playoffs despite the mounting pressure.

## Examples

- You must press the clutch before you change gears.
- The driver felt the clutch slipping as the car struggled to accelerate up the steep hill.
- Modern dual-clutch transmissions use two separate clutches for odd and even gear sets, allowing for near-instantaneous shifts without the interruption of power typical of manual systems.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.