clench your fist
expression · Idiom / expression C2
Plain meaning
to close your hand tightly, often because of anger or tension
Exam-register meaning
In exam reading or discussion, this expression signals to close your hand tightly, often because of anger or tension rather than a literal meaning.
In context
naturalThe phrase “clench your fist” fitted the situation perfectly.
examIn higher-level reading passages, “clench your fist” may be used to show to close your hand tightly, often because of anger or tension.
Common collocations
clench your fistuse “clench your fist” in contextthe expression “clench your fist”
Watch out
Do not translate “clench your fist” word-for-word; learn it as a fixed expression and check whether it is suitable for formal writing.