What's the difference between clutch and crutch?

Clutch


Definition:

  • (n.) A gripe or clinching with, or as with, the fingers or claws; seizure; grasp.
  • (n.) The hands, claws, or talons, in the act of grasping firmly; -- often figuratively, for power, rapacity, or cruelty; as, to fall into the clutches of an adversary.
  • (n.) A device which is used for coupling shafting, etc., so as to transmit motion, and which may be disengaged at pleasure.
  • (n.) Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle.
  • (n.) The nest complement of eggs of a bird.
  • (n.) To seize, clasp, or gripe with the hand, hands, or claws; -- often figuratively; as, to clutch power.
  • (n.) To close tightly; to clinch.
  • (v. i.) To reach (at something) as if to grasp; to catch or snatch; -- often followed by at.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Damn that Beltran, what a clutch postseason performer.
  • (2) When Guillem was approached by French Vogue to be photographed seven years ago she was presented with a clutch of the world's best fashion photographers to choose from.
  • (3) "I have just seen a piece of straw flying over, which the hon lady is attempting to clutch at!"
  • (4) An average of 241,273 viewers gathered round the television (hospital bed) clutching the remote (bag of grapes) staring at the small screen (out of the window).
  • (5) Expecting defeat, but somehow clutching on to hope … Well, Frank [Skinner] and David [Baddiel] wrote that part of the lyrics, but the reason I got them in after the FA asked me to write a song was that I thought it was only worth making if it reflected how it feels to be a football fan.
  • (6) On arriving in Cyprus, Mike was the only person present to celebrate leaving the clutches of Egypt’s national airline.
  • (7) I’ve known them for over 10 years,” said Eugene Ward, 43, clutching a bag of water bottles and beer cans.
  • (8) Aston Villa goalkeeper intercepts and clutches the ball to his chest.
  • (9) Despite the absence of a comprehensive deal, a clutch of local agreements have been reached, the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) said in a report last June.
  • (10) We have rescued 26 children from the clutches of human traffickers in the past 20 days and sent them to rehabilitation centres,” said Sanjeev Kumar, a senior labour official in Bihar’s East Champaran district.
  • (11) When I flew to Salisbury shortly afterwards, the man in the next seat was clutching a thick polythene bag full of small metal objects.
  • (12) Wearing a white dress, black jacket and patent leather sandals, and clutching her mobile phone and keys, she could be on her way to an office in one of the capital's new skyscrapers, instead of walking past a patchwork of bean and sweet potato fields en route to the village's tin-roofed administration offices.
  • (13) Pilgrims from all over the world, many weeping and clutching precious mementos or photographs of loved ones, jostle beneath its soaring domes every day.
  • (14) With Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez still missing, Koeman is reliant on a small clutch of attackers including Dusan Tadic, Sadio Mané, Shane Long, Steven Davis and Graziano Pellè.
  • (15) On return to their nests, the birds immediately resumed incubation and laid a second clutch of eggs after 5 days at which time the first clutch was removed.
  • (16) In his attempt to justify the unjustifiable, Mr Grieve has clutched at a fragile constitutional doctrine and adopted a deeply dubious legal course.
  • (17) A practical preventive measure would be to encourage manufacturers to equip machines with remotely located spring-opening clutches.
  • (18) But I am trying to claw the innocent joy of Halloween out of the cold, deadened clutches of the Zombie of Forced Sexiness.
  • (19) To describe this course of action as "clutching at straws" is to flatter it.
  • (20) Shara Proctor, who might have had hopes of gold while Okagbare busied herself with the 200m, managed only two steps of a run-up before clutching at her left thigh and leaving the arena with her hoodie pulled sorrowfully around her face.

Crutch


Definition:

  • (n.) A staff with a crosspiece at the head, to be placed under the arm or shoulder, to support the lame or infirm in walking.
  • (n.) A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider.
  • (n.) A knee, or piece of knee timber
  • (n.) A forked stanchion or post; a crotch. See Crotch.
  • (v. t.) To support on crutches; to prop up.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) When this parliament votes for another referendum as it inevitably will, thanks to the perpetual crutch that the Greens provide, let’s not pretend it reflects the will of the Scottish people, because it doesn’t.
  • (2) However, a significant difference (p less than 0.001) in heart rate was noted between elbow crutch users who were non-weight bearing on their injured leg compared with those who were partial-weight bearing.
  • (3) In addition, the elevated cardiac response may be caused by added physical exertion by the arms in patients on crutches or walkers.
  • (4) The subjects' posture and endurance also improved, and they spontaneously learned how to use a crutch.
  • (5) The aim of the operation is to enable the paralysed patient to "stand up himself" and to "cover a short distance on crutches".
  • (6) Seven subjects were tested using both standard and spring-loaded crutches.
  • (7) Four children were able to walk on crutches non-weight-bearing after a short period.
  • (8) Changing gait speed or crutch length did not affect elbow moment.
  • (9) Injuries have not helped and Van Gaal lost Luke Shaw to an ankle problem; the left-back departed on crutches and with his foot in a protective boot.
  • (10) However, Lucas, who remains on crutches, fears he has suffered serious damage to the knee and that he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
  • (11) The photos showed the amputees wearing prosthetic limbs, in wheelchairs and on crutches.
  • (12) It should be understood by both the physician and patient that the ventilator for the patient population discussed previously acts merely as a "crutch" that will facilitate the process of rehabilitation.
  • (13) 3) Crutch gait for patients with paraplegia was not practical.
  • (14) Ideal crutch length was determined by an experienced orthopedic physical therapist, with placement of the axillary pad 2.5 in (6.4 cm) below the axillary fold.
  • (15) The injured soldiers were ambulatory without plaster cast immobilization or crutches.
  • (16) Crutch-clipping of the ewe's wool prior to lambing, and total confinement housing at lambing in winter and spring seemed to lower the probability of seroreactivity of the flock (p less than 0.05).
  • (17) He is in a brace and on crutches and is in a bit of pain – there is a bit of swelling there.
  • (18) A modification of the elbow crutch, designed to improve medial-lateral stability, was unsuccessful in use due to wrist instability.
  • (19) The cells on the ground floor house seven people in wheelchairs, and another three on crutches; several people have had strokes in prison; at least two have mild dementia.
  • (20) From an engineering viewpoint one must consider crutches and walking sticks as dynamic mechanical systems which alleviate a disability; they may act as supports, help the user to recover from stumbling, or transmit from the arms, the energy required to lift the feet from the ground, an action not provided by artificial ankle joints.