in someone's or something's clutches
idiom
: in someone's or something's claws
The hawk had the mouse in its clutches.
—often used figuratively to indicate control over someoneThey were powerless to oppose them. He had them in his clutches.
Cite this Entry
“In someone's or something's clutches.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20someone%27s%20or%20something%27s%20clutches. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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