Translation guide
The English word 'clutch' has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the main uses: grasping tightly, a critical situation, a vehicle's clutch pedal, and a small handbag. It also includes related expressions for 'clutching at straws'.
To hold something firmly, often out of fear, determination, or to prevent dropping.
To grip or clasp tightly in one's hand. Emphasizes the firmness of the hold.
She was clutching her handbag.
To hold firmly. A more general phrase than 握りしめる.
He clutched the handrail tightly.
To hold something close to one's body, often protectively. Implies clutching to one's chest.
The child clutched the stuffed animal and wouldn't let go.
To grab or seize. Can be used for a sudden clutching motion, but less about sustained holding.
He clutched my arm.
Referring to a crucial moment, especially in sports or high-pressure scenarios.
Literally 'the one crucial time'. Used for a decisive moment when performance matters most.
He's a player who performs well in the clutch.
The last moment, a critical juncture. Often used in dramatic or desperate situations.
The decisive moment in a game or competition. Common in sports commentary.
The pedal in a manual transmission vehicle that disengages the engine from the wheels.
A small, strapless purse or bag, often used for formal occasions.
Trying any desperate measure when in a hopeless situation.
Literally 'feeling like clinging even to a straw'. The standard equivalent for 'clutching at straws'.
Clutching at straws, I tried that treatment.
Proverb: 'A drowning man will clutch at a straw.' Used to describe desperate actions.
The loanword クラッチ is only used for the mechanical clutch or the handbag. It is not used as a verb meaning 'to grasp'.
握りしめる implies a tighter, more emotional grip (clutching), while しっかり握る is simply holding firmly. Use 握りしめる when there's a sense of desperation or determination.
土壇場で彼は素晴らしいシュートを決めた。
He made an amazing shot in the clutch.
I made a mistake in the clutch.
The clutch pedal is stiff.
Him buying into such a shady story is like a drowning man clutching at a straw.