cling

verb

/klɪŋ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they cling	/klɪŋ/ /klɪŋ/
he / she / it clings	/klɪŋz/ /klɪŋz/
past simple clung	/klʌŋ/ /klʌŋ/
past participle clung	/klʌŋ/ /klʌŋ/
-ing form clinging	/ˈklɪŋɪŋ/ /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

[intransitive] to hold on tightly to somebody/something抓紧；紧握；紧抱
- cling to somebody/something survivors clinging to a raft紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者
- Leaves still clung to the branches.叶子依然紧附在树枝上。
- cling on to somebody/something She clung on to her baby.她紧紧抱住她的婴儿。
- cling on Cling on tight!紧紧抓住！
- cling together They clung together, shivering with cold.他们紧紧地抱在一起，冷得直发抖。
Synonyms hold
holdhold on ▪ cling ▪ clutch ▪ grip ▪ grasp ▪ clasp ▪ hang onThese words all mean to have somebody/something in your hands or arms.
hold to have somebody/something in your hand or arms:
She was holding a large box.她提着一只大箱子。
I held the baby gently in my arms.我把婴儿轻轻地抱在怀里。
hold on (to somebody/something) to continue to hold somebody/something; to put your hand on somebody/something and not take your hand away:
Hold on and don’t let go until I say so.握紧，我让你松手时才松开。
cling to hold on to somebody/something tightly, especially with your whole body:
Survivors clung to pieces of floating debris.生还者紧紧抱住漂浮在水面上的残骸。
clutch to hold somebody/something tightly, especially in your hand; to take hold of something suddenly:
She stood there, the flowers still clutched in her hand.她站在那里，手里仍然紧握着花束。
He felt himself slipping and clutched at a branch.他感到自己滑了一下，便一把抓住一根树枝。
grip to hold on to something very tightly with your hand:
Grip the rope as tightly as you can.尽可能紧紧抓住绳子。
grasp to take a strong hold of somebody/something:
He grasped my hand and shook it warmly.他热情地抓住我的手握了起来。
The object of grasp is often somebody’s hand or wrist.clasp (formal) to hold somebody/something tightly in your hand or in your arms:
They clasped hands (= held each other’s hands).他们相互紧握着对方的手。
She clasped the children in her arms.她把孩子紧紧地搂在怀里。
The object of clasp is often your hands, somebody else’s hand or another person.hang on (to something) to hold on to something very tightly, especially in order to support yourself or stop yourself from falling:
Hang on tight. We’re off!抓紧，我们出发了！
Patterns
- to hold/clutch/grip/clasp something in your hand/hands
- to hold/clutch/clasp somebody/something in your arms
- to hold/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp/hang on to something
- to hold/cling/hang on
- to hold/clutch/clasp somebody/something to you
- to hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp/hang on to somebody/something tightly
- to hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp somebody/something firmly
- to hold/hold on to/clutch/grip/clasp/hang on to somebody/something tight
Extra Examples
- I clung closely to my mother's arm.我紧紧抓着妈妈的胳膊。
- She clung fiercely to him.她紧紧抱住他。
- She clung onto my arm.她紧紧地攀住我的胳膊。
- The children clung together in fear.孩子们害怕地紧靠在一起。
- houses clinging precariously to sheer cliffs在峭壁上摇摇欲坠的房子
- She clung tightly to her baby.她紧紧地抱住她的孩子。
- Survivors clung to pieces of floating debris.生还者紧紧抱住漂浮在水面上的残骸。
- The ground mist clung closely to the bushes.地面的雾气紧挨着灌木丛。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- closely
- firmly
- tightly
- …
preposition
- onto
- to
[intransitive] to stick to something粘住；附着
- a dress that clings (= fits closely and shows the shape of your body)紧身连衣裙
- cling to something The wet shirt clung to his chest.湿衬衫紧贴在他的胸部。
- The smell of smoke still clung to her clothes.烟味仍附着在她的衣服上不散。
- Her hair clung to her hot damp skin.她的头发紧贴着湿热的皮肤。
[intransitive] cling (to somebody) (usually disapproving) to stay close to somebody, especially because you need them emotionally（尤指情感上）依恋，依附
- After her mother's death, Sara clung to her aunt more than ever.萨拉在母亲去世后比以往任何时候都更依附于她的姨妈。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- close
- closely
preposition
- to

Word OriginOld English clingan ‘stick together’, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch klingen ‘adhere’, Middle High German klingen ‘climb’, also to clench.