2[intransitiveI, transitiveT] (also clutch at somebody/something)
a)to suddenly take hold of someone or something because you are frightened, in pain, or in danger 〔因害怕、疼痛或遇险而〕突然抓住,猛地抓住SYN grab
He clutched at a pillar for support.
他猛地抓住一根柱子作支撑。
Tom fell to the ground clutching his stomach.
汤姆捂着肚子倒在地上。
b)clutch at somebody’s heart if something clutches at your heart, you suddenly feel fear or nervousness 某人突然感到一阵恐惧[不安]
3be clutching at strawsespecially British EnglishBrE to be trying everything possible to find a solution or hope in a difficult situation, even though it will probably be unsuccessful 抓救命稻草,急不暇择
I knew that trying the alternative medicine was just clutching at straws.
我很清楚尝试非传统疗法只不过是在抓救命稻草。
Examples from the Corpus
be clutching at straws• Greenponds should not be a problem now, but come next summer, you may be clutching at straws.
Examples from the Corpus
clutch• Joanne clutched her mother's hand.• There was a loud report somewhere outside the house and Leeclutched her pillow.• We only clutch our rifles more firmly and brace ourselves to receive the shock...• A patient found him screaming and clutching the bottle.• She stumbled to her feet, clutching the eiderdown around her, and opened her mouth to call to them.• That way, you can see if you clutch the lectern or keep your hands too stiffly at your side.• I had seen them in Kano clutching their swords as they slept in shopdoorways where they were employed as night-watchmen.• Yet they come out of there clutching this little key he give them.• Fong stood in the doorway, his invitationclutched tightly in his hand.
clutch2 ●○○ noun
1.[countableC] the pedal that you press with your foot when driving a vehicle in order to change gear, or the part of the vehicle that this controls 〔车辆的〕离合器(踏板) →5see picture at 见图car
2somebody’s clutchesPOWER[plural] the power, influence, or control that someone has 某人的掌控[影响,统治]
a small boy trying to escape from his mother’s clutches
1sb/sth's clutchessb/sth's power/control權力;控制VERB + CLUTCHES | PREPOSITIONVERB + CLUTCHES➤fall into陷入⋯的控制◇She fell into the clutches of the rebel forces.她落入了叛軍的手中。➤escape, escape from逃出⋯的控制PREPOSITION➤in sb's clutch在某人的控制下◇They had him in their clutches.他們已經把他控制住了。➤out of sb's clutch不受某人的控制◇Once she was out of their clutches, she fled across the border.她一擺脫他們的控制就逃過了邊界。clutch
noun²
2in a car汽車VERB + CLUTCH | CLUTCH + VERB | CLUTCH + NOUNVERB + CLUTCH➤drop, engage, put your foot on鬆開離合器;合上離合器;把腳踩在離合器上▸➤disengage, let out, pop, release, take your foot off從離合器上挪開;鬆開離合器;突然鬆開離合器;放開離合器;把腳從離合器上挪開◇Put it into first gear and let the clutch out slowly.掛一擋,慢慢鬆開離合器。CLUTCH + VERB➤engage離合器合上▸➤disengage離合器分開▸➤slip離合器滑脫CLUTCH + NOUN➤pedal離合器踏板clutch
verb
ADVERB | PREPOSITION | PHRASESADVERB➤firmly, tightly牢固地/緊緊地抓住▸➤desperately拚命地抓住➤suddenly突然抓住PREPOSITION➤at抓住⋯◇He felt himself slipping and clutched at a branch.他感覺自己要滑倒,就抓住了一根樹枝。PHRASES➤clutch sth in your hand把⋯抓在手裏◇She clutched her handbag tightly in one hand.她一隻手緊緊抓住手提包。➤clutch sth to your chest把⋯抓在胸前◇She clutched the letter to her chest.她把信緊緊抓在胸前。