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death grip

[ deth grip ]

noun

  1. a very tight grip caused by fear or panic, as if facing death (often used facetiously):

    Scared out of my wits, and with a death grip on the motorbike's handlebars, I swore never again to ride on wet pavement.

    You don’t need to have such a death grip on the bat while waiting for the pitch, you know.

  2. a very tight grip on someone, as to strangle or completely overpower them:

    As he knelt, the attacker took him from behind in a death grip, one hand clamped down firmly on his head, the other like a vise around his chest.

  3. tyrannical or unrelenting control:

    Debt has a death grip on so many people's lives.

    These few media giants have had a death grip on the industry for the past decade.

  4. Slang: Vulgar. a very tight grip on the penis when masturbating.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of death grip1

First recorded in 1730–40; 2010–15 death grip fordef 4

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death grantdeath house