clutch vs gotcha

clutch

noun
  • An important or critical situation. 

  • The claw of a predatory animal or bird. 

  • A brood of chickens or a sitting of eggs. 

  • A device to interrupt power transmission, commonly used to separate the engine and gearbox in a car. 

  • A fastener that attaches to the back of a tack pin to secure an accessory to clothing. (See Clutch (pin fastener).) 

  • A small handbag or purse with no straps or handle. 

  • A group or bunch (of people or things). 

  • Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle. 

  • A grip, especially one seen as rapacious or evil. 

  • The pedal in a car that disengages power and torque transmission from the engine (through the drivetrain) to the drive wheels. 

  • A difficult maneuver 

adj
  • Performing or tending to perform well in difficult, high-pressure situations. 

verb
  • To unexpectedly or luckily succeed in a difficult activity. 

  • To hatch. 

  • To seize, as though with claws. 

  • To grip or grasp tightly. 

  • To win in a 1vX (one versus X) situation. 

gotcha

noun
  • A potential problem or source of trouble. 

  • A feature of a system or a program that works in the way it is documented but is counter-intuitive and almost invites mistake or non-function. 

  • An attempt to disprove or refute someone's argument, usually in a deceptive or disingenuous way. 

  • An instance of publicly tricking someone or exposing them to ridicule, especially by means of an elaborate deception. 

  • An instance of accomplishing a tricky idea or overcoming a difficult obstacle. 

abbrev
  • Understand you; comprehend you. 

  • Got you covered, got your back; when you have an advantage or responsibility over someone. 

  • Got you; have you; as in capture or apprehend. 

  • Got you back; as in after causing some form of retaliation or revenge against someone. 

  • Got you by surprise; exclamation indicating a successful trick or prank. 

How often have the words clutch and gotcha occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )