in the clutch
idiom
US
: in a very important or critical situation especially during a sports competition
He is known for his ability to come through in the clutch.
She scored a basket in the clutch.
Examples of in the clutch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Quinn Hughes came through in the clutch to keep the Americans’ gold medal hopes alive.
—
Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
But Wennermars didn’t come close to beating Stolz, who entered the day as a big favorite — and came through in the clutch.
—Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Rather than wilt under the pressure, the Braintree junior decided to deliver in the clutch.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Flagg had a chance to tie the game in the clutch but couldn't knock down the shot.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in the clutch
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
But Wennermars didn’t come close to beating Stolz, who entered the day as a big favorite — and came through in the clutch.
—Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Rather than wilt under the pressure, the Braintree junior decided to deliver in the clutch.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Flagg had a chance to tie the game in the clutch but couldn't knock down the shot.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in the clutch
Cite this Entry
“In the clutch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20clutch. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
