HOLD

HOLD

1. GRASP

   • seize and hold firmly, a firm hold
   • He took my hand in a firm grasp, kissing it lightly. I felt like I was suffocating, like someone had taken a firm grasp around my throat. I somehow managed to pull my arm from his grasp. It slipped from his grasp. And for the first time I had fully grasped what he was proposing.
   • grasp by the wrist grasp the idea - comprehend fully grasp the opportunity

2. SEIZE

   • take hold of suddenly or forcibly take forcible possession of something police/take possesion by warrant
   • A sudden panic/fear seized her. He roughly seized my arm to lead me through the crowd. Drugs seized during the search.
   • seize a chance/oppurtunity carpe diem - seize the day seize the public imagination - appeal to

3. CLUTCH

   • grasp or seize tightly and eagerly / often because of fear or anxiety
   • She clutched her handbag to her body to stop her hands from shaking. She was clutching the sheets of the bed. His hold on his blankets turned to a clutch, his knuckles turning white from the strain.
   • a small bag

4. CLASP

   • grasp tightly with one’s hand; place arm around sth as to hold it tightly
   • He clasped her arm/shoulders.Her arms were clasped around her knees. She clasped her legs firmly around his waist. He gripped my arm in an iron clasp.
   • clasp one’s hands - press together with the fingers interlaced

5. CLENCH

   • (fingers,hands) close into a tight ball esp. angry
   • He struck the wall with his clenched fists. John’s right hand clenched into a fist. Her teeth clenched in anger. He clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles whitening. I felt a clench in my chest. A lump in the throat, a clench of chill around a heart, and an ache in the chest. His jaw clench and unclench.

6. GRAB

   • grasp or seize suddenly and roughly
   • I’ll grab you a beer. She was suddenly grabbed from behind and a hand came up to cover her mouth. He grabbed him by the throat and head-butted him in the face. They grabbed me off of her and pinned me to the floor. He grabbed me by my knees / by my wrists.
   • grab at/for - make a sudden snatch at I grabbed at the handle, missed, and nearly fell. He made a grab at the gun.

7. GRIP

   • take and keep a firm hold; grasp tightly
   • My arm was held in a vicelike grip. I could feel myself losing the grip of the situation.
   • seize/grab/take/catch/lay hold of sth lay/get one’s hands on

8. SNATCH

   • quickly seize in a rude or eager way eagerly take or accept a chance or opportunity snatch at - ineffectually attempt to seize
   • He snatched a cookie. A thief tried to snatch her purse from her pocket. The chance to snatch victory. She snatched at the handle.

9. CLING

   • to/on to/ on hold on to sth tightly (kurczowo uczepić się) stick firmly, closely to; not easy to remove e.g. smoke from clothes overly dependant on sb emotionally cling to the worldview (remain stubbornly or persistently faithful to)
   • You’re clinging to him for security. The fabric clung to her skin.

10. GRAPPLE

    • engage in a close fight without weapons seize hold of sb
    • The passers by grappled with the man after the night attack. He grappled the young man around the throat.

11. CATCH AT

    • grasp or try to grasp
    • His hands caught at her arms as she tried to turn away.