DictionaryclutchSuccess under pressure
adjective

clutch

Successful when it matters most.

The clutch shot wins the game in the final seconds.

Etymology

The adjective grows from in the clutch, meaning at a critical moment. A clutch performance succeeds under that pressure, when the outcome depends especially heavily on the action.

More examples

  • She is a clutch performer under pressure.
  • His clutch play kept the team alive.
  • They needed another clutch hit.

Forms

clutch

Similar words

decisive
Decisive emphasizes determining the result.
dependable
Dependable need not concern a crucial moment.