CLUTCH

What Does Clutch Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

Clutch means "An Unlikely Victory or Success."

More Observations...

The word clutch (as in to grasp something tightly) is used widely in sport and gaming to refer to an unlikely victory or success. In this context, a clutch is usually a defining move or play that seals victory against the odds. Athletes or players that achieve a clutch are sometimes said to be "In the clutch." The term clutch originated in sports commentary and is now popular in gaming. It is also used more widely to refer to any outcome that seemed unlikely (e.g., getting a date with a particularly attractive person, achieving an unexpectedly good exam result, a reflexive reaction that prevents a glass falling to the floor, getting a great deal on something). In September 2022, clutch received a boost in popularity when it featured in a YouTube ad for Uber One:

Clutching is effectively the opposite of choking (failing under pressure).

Image for CLUTCH

When I write CLUTCH, I mean this:

"An Unlikely Victory or Success"

Summary of Key Points

We have summarized the key points in the table below:

CLUTCH
Definition:	An Unlikely Victory or Success
Type:	Word (Slang)
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at Clutch

Clutch is a slang word. Slang refers to words, phrases and uses of language that are regarded as very informal and which are often restricted to a special context or a particular group of users.