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

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Mahomes Magic and coming through in the clutch always has been part of that, but the defense has been essential. Chris Ochsner, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025 Payton made his own — sticking with the run game late, getting massive catches from Courtland Sutton in the clutch, and electing to go for two on the road after scoring a pair of quick TDs to stun the Philly crowd. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 5 Oct. 2025 On Wednesday night, Chisholm responded to his frustration from the night before by winning the Yankees the game in the clutch, saving their season from the brink of elimination. Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025 Every frame of Ohtani in the clutch gets boosted into essential baseball. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for in the clutch

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Cite this Entry

“In the clutch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20clutch. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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