What it means
Clutch describes someone or something that comes through exactly when it matters most, saving the day at the last possible second. That clutch goal, that clutch friend who shows up with the charger.
Usage examples
"You brought an umbrella? So clutch."
"That last-minute save was absolutely clutch."
"My phone was on 1 percent and you pulled up with a charger. Clutch as hell."
"She got the tickets five minutes before they sold out. That was clutch."
Where it comes from
This comes from sports talk in the US, where clutch first described players or plays that land in the pressure-cooker moment. By the late 20th century it had spread beyond sports, and now people use it for anything or anyone that comes through right when things are about to go sideways.
This expression also appears in
