clamber

Related to clamber: clamber onto

clamber in(to something)

To climb into something in a lumbering or uncoordinated manner. The bus swayed as the boys clambered into it, whooping and laughing. I opened the door of the van, and everyone tried to clamber in at once.
See also: clamber

clamber on

To climb on(to something) in a lumbering or uncoordinated manner. The bus swayed as the boys clambered on, whooping and laughing the whole time. I clambered on the table to change the lightbulb.
See also: clamber, on

clamber onto (something)

To climb onto something in a lumbering or uncoordinated manner. The bus swayed as the boys clambered onto it, whooping and laughing.
See also: clamber

clamber up (something)

To climb something. Everyone else was able to clamber up the rope in gym class, but I struggled, thanks to my scrawny arms.
See also: clamber, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

clamber onto something

 and clamber in (to something); clamber on
to climb onto something clumsily. The kids clambered onto the tractor and tried to start it. The wagon stopped and the kids clambered on. All the campers clambered into the bus.
See also: clamber

clamber up (something)

to climb up something, especially in a particular way. The wall climbers clambered up the wall quickly. Tricia clambered up the ladder and cautiously went down again.
See also: clamber, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • clamber in(to something)
  • clambering
  • clamber on
  • clamber onto
  • clamber onto (something)
  • get out of sync (with someone or something)
  • be out of sync (with someone or something)
  • out of phase
  • out of phase (with someone or something)
  • out of sync
References in classic literature
Up he clambered a few feet, drew up the loose end after him, unslung his belt, held on with knee and with elbow while he spliced the long, tough leathern belt to the end of the cord: then lowering himself as far as he could go, he swung backwards and forwards until his hand reached the crack, when he left the rope and clung to the face of the cliff.
The White Company
A large tree, densely foliaged, offered a splendid vantage-point from which to spy upon the cliff, so I clambered among its branches where, securely hidden, I could watch what transpired about the caves.
Pellucidar
The Englishman grew suddenly very white, but there was a smile upon his lips as without a word he slipped over the edge of the plane and clambered to the ground behind Tarzan.
Tarzan the Untamed
As the reinforcements started to scale the vessel's side Number Thirteen's searching eyes found the girl in Muda Saffir's prahu, where it lay a little off from the Ithaca, and as the first of the enemy clambered over the rail she saw a smile of encouragement light the clear cut features of the man above her.
The Monster Men
Chulk had remained at his post until the cries and shots of the Arabs had filled his simple soul with terror, for above all things the ape folk fear the thunder-sticks of the Tarmangani; then he had clambered nimbly over the palisade, tearing his burnoose in the effort, and fled into the depths of the jungle, grumbling and scolding as he went.
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
When they had clambered aboard, Tarzan dropped to earth behind a great tree and crept to his cabin, keeping it always between himself and the ship.
When the two boats were beached upon the silvery sand it was a strange assortment of humanity that clambered ashore.
Tarzan of the Apes
You had to veer off from the path then clamber down from the edge of the moor, which petered out in a low cliff.
MORNINGSERIAL
Clockwise from above: Hundreds of hands reach for the ball; one youngster is carried unconscious from the fray; a girl clambers over the lads; putting the boot in; marshals help the ball holder; players fall to the ground; others clamber up to get a better view ; LB050208ball-2; LB050208ball-3; LB050208ball-6; DS050208BALL8; LB050208ball-9; LB050208ball-7; DS050208BALL9
Atherstone ball game
The pair managed to clamber onto man-made sea defences as the tide began sweeping in but could not get to shore.
Lifeboat saves boys trapped on sandbank
Wild roses clamber up tulip poplars and pink roses grow around a hollow stump.
More than a balanced breakfast: a holistic take on the B&B
Getting down low and shooting up at him as he patiently waits for tourists to clamber aboard, I was able to turn the driver into a virtual silhouette by shooting him against the overcast sky, making this portrait a more symbolic image.
The working portrait: communicating more than a likeness
Stunned ground staff saw the man clamber onto the British Airways 747 bound for San Francisco.
BA jet halted by stowaway
Although their English was usually as limited as our Vietnamese, they would clamber over each other to play with us, sing songs or simply smile, laugh and touch.
The can-do spirit of Vietnam: on a recent visit to Vietnam, British teacher Rob Neal found a nation that refused to be held back by its suffering. (First Person)