clutch at something
clutch
noun
uk /klʌtʃ/ us /klʌtʃ/

clutchnoun (MACHINE PART)

[ Cusually singular ]
a device that allows turning movement to be sent from one part of a machine to another: 离合器
clutch slipsI've booked the car into the garage because the clutch is slipping.我已约好了时间把车送去修，因为离合器松了。
C1[ Cusually singular ]
the pedal or handle in a vehicle that is used to operate the engine's clutch: 离合器踏板；离合器手柄
push the clutch inPush the clutch in, put the car into gear, rev the engine, and then gently let the clutch out.踩下离合器，挂上挡，踩油门，然后慢慢松开离合器。
let the clutch outPush the clutch in, put the car into gear, rev the engine, and then gently let the clutch out.踩下离合器，挂上挡，踩油门，然后慢慢松开离合器。
pop the clutchTry pushing the vehicle and popping the clutch (= releasing it suddenly and completely) if it will not start.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Machines - parts
air compressor
air filter
air hose
axle
coaster brake
collector plate
console
guard
inlet
manifold
mechanism
pivot
rack
rack and pinion
ratchet
slide
slider
soft key
spline
stepney

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

The interior of vehicles

clutchnoun (GROUP)

[ C ]
a small group of eggs produced by the same bird, especially in a nest（尤指鸟巢里的）一窝蛋
[ S ]
a small group of people or things: （人的）一群，一伙
clutch ofa fresh clutch of students一群新学生

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Groups and collections of things
age bracket
agglomerate
agglomeration
Aladdin's cave
anthology
array
basket
crop
empty set
ensemble
family
feast
glory box
package
portfolio
selection
sheaf
sheaves
starter pack
store cupboard

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Groups of people

clutchnoun (CONTROL)

 someone's clutchesC2[ plural ]humorous
the control of someone: …的掌控，…的控制
be in the clutches ofHe is in the clutches of that woman.

clutchnoun (DIFFICULT SITUATION)

[ S or U ]US
a difficult and important situation that needs a lot of skill to deal with successfully:
in the clutch"This team was able to perform in the clutch every time," he said.
clutch situationHe remained cool under pressure and made accurate throws in clutch situations.
 come in clutch
informal
to be very useful or helpful, especially in a difficult or important situation:
I hoped that my beginner's luck would come in clutch.
She learns that even though families might not be perfect, they sometimes come in clutch to save the day.
These maths posters will help your child with their homework, and come in clutch for parents who need a little maths refresher too.
We've battled through a lot, but I know what they can do in the clutch.
Wright had a great season on the whole but was awful in clutch situations.
Tiger doesn't seem to miss putts at clutch moments. He can handle the pressure.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences
a hard/tough row to hoeidiom
adversity
at your worstidiom
Augean
bad hair day
downer
epidemic
half nelson
hardness
have a bumpy rideidiom
pall
prison
purgatory
push factor
quagmire
quicksand
scrape
strait
the Augean Stablesidiom
the hard wayidiom

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Useful or advantageous
clutch
adjective
USuk /klʌtʃ/ us /klʌtʃ/
[ before noun ]
able to do something when it is especially difficult or especially needed: 在危机时刻可以信赖的，在紧急关头做出的
Moose, always reliable under pressure, was an amazing clutch hitter.莫斯，抗压力极好，总能在危急关头出人意表地扭转局势。
clutch performerHe developed the reputation for being the big winner, the clutch performer.
[ before noun ]
done successfully when this is especially difficult or especially important:
It was his leadership and clutch play that made him special.
The team managed only three hits after falling behind, but came up with the clutch hit when it needed it the most.
 be clutch
slang
used to say that something is extremely good or useful, or exactly what is needed in a situation:
I found five dollars in my pocket. That was so damn clutch.
We got the ball into our most clutch player's hands, and he delivered.
In 1998, Hasek cemented his reputation as a clutch performer when he led the Czech National Team to an Olympic gold medal.
They need to play nearly flawlessly to beat the hottest team in baseball. They need clutch hitting, they need near-perfect pitching.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Skilled, talented and able
able
ably
accomplished
adept
adeptly
dexterous
dexterously
digital native
expert
expertly
pedigreed
polished
practised
proficient
proficiently
up to (doing) somethingidiom
well qualified
white-collar
with the best of themidiom
workmanlike

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Very important or urgent

clutch | American Dictionary

clutch
verb[ I/T ]
us/klʌtʃ/

clutchverb[I/T] (HOLD)

to hold or try to hold something tightly, often because of a state of fear or anxiety:
[ T ]The preschooler clutched his mother tightly.
clutch
noun

clutchnoun (VEHICLE PART)

[ Cusually sing ]us/klʌtʃ/
a device in a car or other vehicle that you press with your foot in order to change gears (= set of wheels that control power)

clutchnoun (GROUP)

[ C ]us/klʌtʃ/
a group of eggs or young animals hatched from eggs:
several clutches of the infant sea turtles
[ C ]us/klʌtʃ/
A clutch is also a group of people, animals, or things:
The herders tend to small clutches of cattle and llamas.

clutchnoun (BAG)

[ C ]us/klʌtʃ/
a small bag with no handle or strap, used esp. by women for carrying small personal items
clutch
adjective
us/klʌtʃ/

clutchadjective (PERFORMING WELL)

able to do something when it is especially needed:
Moose, always reliable under pressure, was a tremendous clutch hitter.

Examples of clutch

clutch
Every 4 days the oviposition height of 18 egg clutches per site was measured as vertical height.
For example, consider the following two text spans: given that the clutch was functional, and it is unlikely that the engine was driving the starter.
Each clutch was monitored until the last egg hatched or the embryo died.
Each clutch was digitally photographed and individually marked.
Freed from the clutches of local traditions, they are now open to diverse universalising, expert discourses.
Pairs may wait until suitable snow-free patches are exposed on their territories before initiating a clutch.
She clutches at whatever's cheapest and gradually refuses everything.
When the clutch engaged, the electric timer, one direct floodlight, and two indirect spotlights were turned on automatically.
Oviposition height was also significantly positively correlated with the height of the plants to which egg clutches had been attached.
All egg clutches were transferred to the laboratory.
A second experiment assessed the relationship between host size and brood (clutch) size based on numbers of parasitoid eggs allocated per host.
For each brood the date of clutch initiation, clutch size and hatching date were recorded.
A 96 tooth steel gear, with a pitch diameter of 3in., was mounted on the drive shaft just above the clutch.
This type of attention emancipates her from the clutch of situational biographers.
However, 4 of 9 broods oviposited by such ovaries were noticeably smaller than normal clutches for an uninfected female of a similar size.
See all examples of clutch
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.