clench
verb- [transitive, intransitive]
when you clench your hands, teeth, etc., or when they clench, you press them together tightly, usually showing that you are angry, determined or upset （通常表示愤怒、决心或不安时）捏紧，攥紧（拳头等），咬紧（牙齿等） - clench (something)
He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。 Through clenched teeth she told him to leave. 她咬牙切齿地叫他离开。 His fists clenched slowly until his knuckles were white. 他的拳头慢慢地捏紧，直捏得指关节都发白了。 Her hands clenched involuntarily. 她不由自主地攥紧了拳头。 - clench (something) + adv./prep.
She sat with hands clenched together in her lap. 她双手紧握放在大腿上坐着。 His jaw was clenched tight. 他紧咬牙关。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- firmly
- tight
- tightly
- …
- clenched between somebody’s teeth
- clench (something)
- [transitive, often passive]
to hold something tightly 握紧；抓牢；攥住 - be clenched between/in something
Her pen was clenched between her teeth. 她咬着笔。 She had a gun clenched tightly in her hand. 她手里紧紧握着一把枪。 - clench something
He clenched the steering wheel tightly. 他紧紧地握着方向盘。
Extra ExamplesShe sat at her desk, her pen clenched between her teeth. 她坐在书桌前，牙缝里攥着钢笔。 He had a wine glass clenched firmly in his hand. 他手里紧握着一个酒杯。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- firmly
- tight
- tightly
- …
- clenched between somebody’s teeth
- be clenched between/in something
Word OriginOld English (in the sense of clinch ‘fix securely’): of Germanic origin; related to cling.