in someone's or something's clutches

idiom

: in someone's or something's claws
The hawk had the mouse in its clutches.
often used figuratively to indicate control over someone
They were powerless to oppose them. He had them in his clutches.

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Cite this Entry

“In someone's or something's clutches.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20someone%27s%20or%20something%27s%20clutches. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

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