Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - clutch

~1 v to hold something or someone tightly, especially because you are frightened, in pain, or do not want to lose something  (Tom fell to the ground clutching his stomach. | A woman clutching a baby stole an elderly woman's purse.) clutch at phr v 1 to try hard to hold something, especially when you are in a dangerous situation  (Suzie clutched desperately at the muddy river bank.) 2 clutch at straws to try hard to find a sign of hope or a solution, even when these are not likely to exist, in a difficult or dangerous situation  (The doctors are really clutching at straws with this new treatment, but they've tried everything else.) ~2 n 1 the pedal1 (2) that you press with your foot when driving a vehicle in order to change gear1 (1)  (let in the clutch/let out the clutch (=put your foot on or take your foot off the clutch)) 2 clutches plural the power, influence, or control that someone has  (in sb's clutches (=controlled or influenced by someone))  (Many state organizations fell into the clutches of the Mafia.) 3 a tight hold that someone has on something  (I shook myself free of her clutch.) 4 a clutch of a small group of similar things  (a clutch of eggs/chickens (=a group of eggs which a hen produces at one time, or the chickens born from these eggs)) 5 when it comes to the clutch AmE informal when a difficult situation happens  (When it comes to the clutch, you can always count on Tom.)