clutched

clutched

Nervous or anxious. I used to get clutched every time I had to drive, but I'm a lot calmer behind the wheel now.
See also: clutch
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

clutched

mod. nervous. I get so clutched before a test.
See also: clutch
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • clutch up
  • clutch at
  • clutch at (someone or something)
  • cat on a hot tin roof, like a
  • chill out
  • clutch (someone or something) to (something)
  • clutch to
  • ain’t 1
  • cool out
  • cool someone out
References in classic literature
I thought I had separated you from all the world, and yet you have deceived me!' In her anger she clutched Rapunzel's beautiful tresses, wrapped them twice round her left hand, seized a pair of scissors with the right, and snip, snap, they were cut off, and the lovely braids lay on the ground.
Fairy Tales
As the two reports rang out Malbihn dropped his rifle, clutched frantically at his breast, staggered, fell first to his knees and then lunged upon his face.
Son Of Tarzan
Into this fell the body of the warrior, and as a drowning man clutches at a straw so the fellow clutched at the tangled cordage that caught him and arrested his fall.
The Chessmen of Mars
Already a hairy hand had clutched the helpless Taug when, with an angry growl of protest, Tarzan leaped to the branch at the attacking ape's side, and with a single mighty cuff, swept him from his perch.
Jungle Tales of Tarzan
They clutched at me more boldly, whispering odd sounds to each other.
Time Machine
In his hand he clutched the sputtering candle, and as he took the leap the rush of air extinguished it.
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar