étreinte, prise serrer fort the boy's mother was sitting clutching a handkerchief. to clutch at sth = se cramponner à qch Ella stood outside, vainly trying to clutch at the door handle (fig) sauter sur qch She would have clutched at any excuse to miss school for the day. [+car] embrayage (clutch pedal) « Gently release the clutch pedal until you feel the car trying to pull away. »