clutch vs plight

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. 

plight

noun
  • A dire or unfortunate situation. 

  • Blame; culpability; fault; wrong-doing; sin; crime. 

  • One's office; duty; charge. 

  • Responsibility for ensuing consequences; risk; danger; peril. 

  • An instance of danger or peril; a dangerous moment or situation. 

verb
  • To promise (oneself) to someone, or to do something. 

  • Specifically, to pledge (one's troth etc.) as part of a marriage ceremony. 

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