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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Clutch Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：grip tightly (clutch)

clutch 🔊

/klʌtʃ/

To hold something tightly, especially because you are afraid, anxious, or in a hurry.

Clutch meaning illustrated: hands tightly gripping a leather strap.

grip tightly 🔊

➕

/ɡrɪp ˈtaɪtli/

To grasp or hold onto something firmly, often due to strong emotions like fear, anxiety, or excitement.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Middle English 'clucchen', meaning 'to grasp', related to 'claw'.

💡 Mnemonic

CLUTCH the bag CLOSE and TIGHTLY until you're HOME. (Sounds like 'clutch').

📖 Example

He clutched the winning lottery ticket in his hand, too excited to speak. 🔊 He gripped the winning lottery ticket tightly in his hand, too excited to speak.

🔗 Collocations

clutch at straws – to try every possible thing in a desperate situation

clutch one's pearls – to react with exaggerated shock or dismay

clutch bag – a small handheld purse without a strap

🔄 Synonyms

grasp (v.) – to seize and hold firmly

cling (v.) – to hold on tightly to something or someone

grip (v.) – to take and keep a firm hold of

🚫 Antonyms

release (v.) – to allow something to move or be set free

drop (v.) – to let something fall

loosen (v.) – to make something less tight

🌱 Derivatives

clutchy (adj.) – tending to grasp or hold tightly, especially in sports describing a player under pressure

📖 Cultural Story

The verb 'clutch' originally described the physical action of grabbing or seizing with the hand. Its application to the automobile pedal ('clutch') in the late 19th century is a natural extension, as it 'grasps' and connects the engine to the wheels.

Meaning 2：car's gear pedal (clutch)

clutch 🔊

/klʌtʃ/

A pedal in a car that you press with your foot to change gears by disconnecting the engine from the wheels.

Clutch pedal diagram: driver's foot pressing the car clutch.

car's gear pedal 🔊

➕

/kɑːrz ɡɪər ˈpedl/

A foot-operated control in a manual transmission vehicle that disconnects the engine from the wheels to allow for gear changes.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Learning to coordinate the clutch and the accelerator is the trickiest part for new drivers. 🔊 Learning to coordinate the car's gear pedal and the accelerator is the trickiest part for new drivers.

🔗 Collocations

press the clutch – to push the clutch pedal down with your foot

release the clutch – to gradually let the clutch pedal up

engage the clutch – to connect the engine to the transmission by letting the pedal out

🔄 Synonyms

clutch pedal (n.) – the specific foot pedal that operates the clutch mechanism

🚫 Antonyms

automatic transmission (n.) – a car gear system that changes gears automatically, eliminating the need for a clutch pedal