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