clutches
clutches — 動詞
1. to hold on to something or someone very tightly with your hand, often because yo
緊緊抓住
因害怕或疼痛而緊握不放
to hold on to something or someone very tightly with your hand, often because you are afraid, in pain, or trying not to drop it.
Asher clutched the railing as the boat rocked in the storm.
Asher 在船隻於暴風雨中搖晃時緊緊抓住欄杆。
clutch + noun for holding tightly out of fear
Noor clutched her bag to her chest as she walked through the dark alley.
Noor 走過黑暗的巷子時，把包包緊緊抱在胸前。
clutch + noun + to + body part
The toddler clutched a stuffed rabbit while the nurse gave her the injection.
護士幫小女孩打針時，她緊緊抱著一隻絨毛兔子。
Tara clutched her stomach and groaned after eating the spicy curry.
Tara 吃了辣咖哩之後，緊緊按住肚子並發出呻吟。
Élise clutched the letter so hard that her knuckles turned white.
Élise 把信緊握在手中，握得指節都變白了。
文法句型
clutch + noun
clutch + noun + preposition + body part
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person; object is usually something held in the hand or pressed against the body. Strongly suggests emotion (fear, pain, panic) rather than a calm grip.
常見錯誤
2. to try to take hold of something quickly, often by stretching out your hand beca
急忙伸手抓
因危險或慌亂而試圖抓住某物
to try to take hold of something quickly, often by stretching out your hand because you are falling, drowning, or desperate.
Hyun clutched at the rope as she slipped down the cliff face.
Hyun 從懸崖滑下時，急忙伸手去抓那條繩子。
clutch at + noun for desperate grabbing
The swimmer clutched at the side of the pool, gasping for breath.
那名泳者急忙伸手抓住泳池邊緣，喘著大氣。
Nadia clutched at her father's sleeve as the crowd pushed them apart.
Nadia 在人群把她和父親沖散時，急忙抓住父親的袖子。
The old man clutched at the wall to keep himself from falling on the wet floor.
那位老人在濕滑的地板上急忙伸手扶牆，以免摔倒。
文法句型
clutch at + noun
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'at'. Distinguishes from sense 1: 'clutch at' implies the attempt may fail, while 'clutch + noun' implies a successful tight hold.
常見錯誤
3. to press down the clutch pedal in a manual car so that you can change gear.
踩離合器
操作手排車的離合器踏板以換檔
to press down the clutch pedal in a manual car so that you can change gear.
Christopher had to clutch and change gear quickly to climb the steep hill.
Christopher 必須快速踩離合器並換檔，才能爬上那個陡坡。
clutch + change gear
Sana learned to clutch smoothly during her first driving lesson on Andrés's old car.
Sana 在 Andrés 的舊車上第一次學開車，學會了平穩地踩離合器。
The driver forgot to clutch and the engine stalled at the traffic lights.
那位駕駛忘了踩離合器，引擎在紅綠燈前熄火了。
Emily had to clutch twice to shift into reverse on the rented van.
Emily 在那台租來的廂型車上得踩兩次離合器才能打到倒檔。
- declutch
more technical term in driving manuals
文法句型
clutch (no object)
用法筆記
Almost never used in everyday speech outside driving instruction; most speakers say 'press the clutch' or 'use the clutch'. Only applies to manual-transmission cars.
常見錯誤
clutches — 名詞
1. the pedal in a manual car that you press with your foot to change gear, or the p
離合器
手排車中用來換檔的踏板或裝置
the pedal in a manual car that you press with your foot to change gear, or the part inside the car that connects and disconnects the engine from the wheels.
Kwame pressed the clutch and shifted the old jeep into second gear.
Kwame 踩下離合器，把那輛舊吉普車打到二檔。
press + the clutch + and + shift
The clutch on Chiara's hatchback started slipping after twelve years of city driving.
Chiara 那台掀背車在市區開了十二年後，離合器開始打滑。
the clutch + slip for wear
The mechanic told Andrés that his clutch would need replacing within six months.
技師告訴 Andrés，他的離合器在六個月內需要更換。
Release the clutch slowly or the car will jerk forward and stall.
離合器要慢慢放，不然車子會往前一頓然後熄火。
- coupling
more technical engineering term for the mechanical part
文法句型
the clutch
release the clutch
用法筆記
Usually with the definite article ('the clutch'). The same word covers both the pedal you press and the mechanical part it controls — context tells you which.
常見錯誤
2. the power that a person or group has over someone, especially when that power is
魔掌；掌控
難以擺脫的殘酷控制
the power that a person or group has over someone, especially when that power is used in a harsh or cruel way and the person cannot escape it.
The young workers were trapped in the clutches of a boss who underpaid them for years.
那些年輕員工多年來都落在一個剝削他們的老闆魔掌之中。
in the clutches of + person
Tara managed to escape the clutches of the loan shark by moving to another town.
Tara 搬到另一個城鎮，總算逃出了那名放高利貸者的魔掌。
escape the clutches of + person
The villagers lived for decades in the clutches of a corrupt local official.
村民在一名貪腐地方官員的掌控下生活了數十年。
Once a child falls into the clutches of a gambling habit, breaking free is very hard.
孩子一旦落入賭博習慣的魔掌，要擺脫就非常困難。
- freedom
the state of being released from such control
文法句型
in someone's clutches
fall into the clutches of someone
用法筆記
Almost always plural ('clutches'). Strongly negative — the controller is presented as cruel, criminal, or exploitative; the controlled person is presented as a victim.
常見錯誤
3. a single quick movement in which a hand or claw closes tightly around something.
抓握；一抓
用手或爪快速緊握的動作
a single quick movement in which a hand or claw closes tightly around something.
With one clutch of its talons, the hawk lifted the small rabbit off the ground.
老鷹利爪一抓，就把那隻小兔子從地上提了起來。
a clutch of + body part
Nadia felt a sudden clutch at her elbow and turned to see her grandmother behind her.
Nadia 突然感到手肘被一抓，轉身發現是奶奶站在她身後。
a clutch at + body part
The wrestler broke free with a sharp clutch of his opponent's wrist.
那名摔角選手用力一抓對手的手腕，掙脫了束縛。
A firm clutch of the steering wheel saved the driver from sliding off the icy road.
駕駛緊緊一握方向盤，才沒讓車子在結冰的路上滑出去。
文法句型
a clutch of/at + noun
with a clutch
用法筆記
Often appears with 'of' (clutch of talons / fingers) or 'at' (clutch at the arm). Refers to the grabbing event itself, not the ongoing hold.
4. a key moment in a sports game or a tense situation when success or failure is de
關鍵時刻
決定勝負的緊張時刻，多用於運動
a key moment in a sports game or a tense situation when success or failure is decided, especially near the end.
Christopher always seems to score points in the clutch when his basketball team needs them most.
Christopher 似乎總能在他籃球隊最需要得分的關鍵時刻得分。
in the clutch + sports context
The young pitcher came through in the clutch and struck out the final batter.
那位年輕投手在關鍵時刻表現出色，三振了最後一名打者。
come through in the clutch
Emily proved she could perform in the clutch by closing the deal one minute before the deadline.
Emily 在截止前一分鐘談成生意，證明她能在關鍵時刻發揮。
Sana's free throw in the final second showed she could handle the clutch.
Sana 在最後一秒罰球命中，證明她能應付關鍵時刻。
- crunch time
informal; also American; very similar meaning
- the crucial moment
more neutral and international
文法句型
in the clutch
come through in the clutch
用法筆記
Strongly American English, and strongly tied to sports commentary (basketball, baseball, American football). British speakers usually say 'when it really matters' or 'at the crucial moment'.
5. a small flat bag without handles or a strap, carried in your hand, usually used
手拿包
沒有提把、握在手中的小型晚宴包
a small flat bag without handles or a strap, carried in your hand, usually used at formal evening events.
Chiara matched her silver clutch to the silver buttons on her evening dress.
Chiara 用銀色手拿包搭配晚禮服上的銀色鈕扣。
a + colour + clutch
Élise tucked her phone and lipstick into a velvet clutch before the wedding reception.
Élise 在參加婚禮前，把手機和口紅放進一個絲絨手拿包裡。
The shop sold beaded clutches made by women in a fair-trade workshop in Kenya.
那家店賣的串珠手拿包，是由肯亞一個公平貿易工坊的女性製作的。
A small black clutch is the most useful bag to own for formal events.
正式場合最實用的包包，就是一個黑色小手拿包。
- clutch bag
the longer full form; very common in fashion writing
- evening bag
broader; may include small bags with thin chains
- shoulder bag
has a long strap worn over the shoulder
- tote
large open bag with two handles
文法句型
a clutch
an evening clutch
用法筆記
Also called a 'clutch bag' or 'clutch purse'. The defining feature is the lack of a handle or strap — you carry it pressed in your hand or under your arm.
常見錯誤
6. all the eggs that a bird lays at one time, or all the baby birds that hatch from
一窩
鳥一次產下的全部蛋或孵出的雛鳥
all the eggs that a bird lays at one time, or all the baby birds that hatch from those eggs together.
The hen sat on a clutch of seven eggs in the corner of the barn.
母雞在穀倉角落孵著一窩共七顆的蛋。
a clutch of + number + eggs
A clutch of yellow ducklings followed their mother across the farmyard.
一窩黃色的小鴨子跟著媽媽走過農場院子。
a clutch of + baby birds
Most robins lay a clutch of three to five eggs each spring.
大多數知更鳥每到春天會產下一窩三到五顆的蛋。
The fox attacked the nest and ate the entire clutch overnight.
狐狸襲擊了鳥巢，一整窩在一夜之間被吃光。
文法句型
a clutch of eggs
a clutch of chicks
用法筆記
Always with 'of' when the eggs or chicks are named; the size of a 'clutch' depends on the species (chickens lay larger clutches than eagles). Used in birdwatching, farming, and biology writing.
常見錯誤
7. a small number of people or things that are together in one place at the same ti
一群；一批
同時聚在一起的少數人或東西
a small number of people or things that are together in one place at the same time.
A clutch of tourists waited outside the museum for the rain to stop.
一群遊客在博物館外等雨停。
a clutch of + people
Hyun received a clutch of awards at the school's end-of-year ceremony.
Hyun 在學校的學期末頒獎典禮上拿到了一批獎項。
a clutch of + countable things
The judges shortlisted a clutch of promising young chefs for the final round.
評審把一批有前途的年輕廚師列入決賽名單。
A clutch of new cafes opened on the same street within three months.
三個月內，同一條街上開了一批新咖啡館。
文法句型
a clutch of + plural noun
用法筆記
Less common than 'group' or 'bunch'; sounds slightly literary or journalistic. Suggests the items appeared close together in time or space, often by chance.
常見錯誤
clutches — 形容詞
1. describing a play, shot, or moment in a sports game that happens at a key moment
關鍵的
在比賽關鍵時刻完成的（多用於運動）
describing a play, shot, or moment in a sports game that happens at a key moment when the game could be won or lost.
The point guard made a clutch three-pointer with two seconds left on the clock.
那名控球後衛在比賽剩兩秒時，投進一記關鍵的三分球。
clutch + sports noun
Andrés's clutch catch in the ninth inning saved the game for his team.
Andrés 在第九局接到一記關鍵的飛球，為球隊保住勝利。
Emily's clutch goal in extra time sent the school to the regional final.
Emily 在延長賽中踢進一記關鍵進球，把學校送進區域決賽。
Only a clutch save by the goalkeeper kept the score level until full time.
全靠守門員一記關鍵撲救，比分才到全場結束都還沒被超前。
- routine
ordinary; not under any pressure
文法句型
clutch + noun (sports)
用法筆記
Attributive only — sits before a noun ('a clutch shot'), never after 'be' ('the shot was clutch' is rare slang). Almost entirely sports vocabulary; sportscaster register.
常見錯誤
2. describing a player or performer who reliably succeeds at key moments when the g
擅長關鍵的
能在壓力下穩定發揮的（球員、表演者）
describing a player or performer who reliably succeeds at key moments when the game or test is on the line.
Coaches across the league agreed that Kwame had become the most clutch shooter on the team.
聯盟教練都同意，Kwame 已成為隊上最擅長關鍵時刻得分的射手。
clutch + player noun
Nadia is a clutch performer who scores higher on the final exam than on any practice test.
Nadia 在期末考的分數總比平時測驗高，是個擅長關鍵時刻發揮的人。
clutch + performer outside sports
Every championship team needs a clutch kicker who can handle the pressure of the final minute.
每支冠軍隊伍都需要一名能應付最後一分鐘壓力的關鍵踢球員。
Quinn's coach described her as a clutch player who never panicked at match point.
Quinn 的教練形容她是個擅長關鍵時刻的球員，賽末點時從不慌亂。
- reliable under pressure
longer descriptive phrase; less punchy
- money
American slang adjective with very similar meaning ('a money player')
- choke artist
informal noun for a player who fails under pressure
文法句型
a clutch + player/performer
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 describes the action (a clutch shot), sense 2 describes the person who reliably makes such actions (a clutch shooter). Often used in praise.