cling to

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition

Verb (transitive): To hold onto something or someone very tightly and persistently, often with a strong emotional attachment or a refusal to let go. It implies a firm, often desperate, physical or metaphorical grasp.

Usage

This verb is used to describe the action of gripping something tightly, either physically or by maintaining a belief, hope, or memory with determination. It often carries a connotation of dependency, reluctance to release, or tenacity.

Examples
  • She clung to the railing as she walked down the icy steps.
  • The child clung to his mother's leg, afraid of the stranger.
  • He still clings to the hope that his missing dog will return home.
  • The wet shirt clung to his skin.
  • They cling to their traditions despite the changing world.
Advanced Usage
  • Cling to the belief/idea/notion that...: To persist in believing something, often despite evidence to the contrary.
    • She clings to the belief that everything will work out in the end.
  • Cling to life: To struggle to stay alive, often in a dire situation.
    • The injured hiker clung to life until rescuers arrived.
  • Cling to power/office: To try desperately to maintain a position of authority.
    • The dictator clung to power for decades.
Variants and Related Words
  • Cling (verb, intransitive): The base form, meaning to adhere or stick closely.
    • The vine clings to the wall.
  • Clingy (adjective): Describing a person or thing that clings, often excessively.
    • The fabric is very clingy.
    • He became clingy after the breakup.
  • Cling film (noun, British English): A thin plastic wrap that adheres to surfaces; known as "plastic wrap" or "Saran wrap" in American English.
Synonyms
  • Clutch: To grasp or hold tightly, often suddenly.
  • Clasp: To hold firmly with the hand or arms.
  • Grip: To take and keep a firm hold of.
  • Hold onto: To keep possession of or maintain a grip on.
  • Adhere to: To stick firmly to a surface, substance, or belief (more formal).
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Cling on: Very similar to "cling to," often emphasizing the effort of holding on.
    • Cling on tight! The ride is about to start.
  • Hold on to: A more general synonym for retaining possession or grip, physical or abstract.
    • You should hold on to those old letters.
Related Idioms
  • Cling like a limpet: To hold on very obstinately and tenaciously. (A limpet is a shellfish that sticks tightly to rocks.)
    • Once he gets an idea, he clings to it like a limpet.
  • Cling to someone's coattails: To try to achieve success by associating with someone who is already successful.
    • He rose in the company by clinging to the CEO's coattails.
Verb
  1. hold firmly, usually with one's hands
    • She clutched my arm when she got scared

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