clutch vs pull

clutch

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

  • The claw of a predatory animal or bird. 

  • An important or critical situation. 

  • 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). 

  • 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 

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. 

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

pull

noun
  • Any device meant to be pulled, as a lever, knob, handle, or rope. 

  • The act of drinking; a mouthful or swig of a drink. 

  • The situation where a client sends out a request for data from a server, as in server pull, pull technology 

  • A mishit shot which travels in a straight line and (for a right-handed player) left of the intended path. 

  • An attractive force which causes motion towards the source. 

  • Appeal or attraction (e.g. of a movie star). 

  • A single impression from a handpress. 

  • A journey made by rowing. 

  • A proof sheet. 

  • An act of pulling (applying force toward oneself). 

  • An injury resulting from a forceful pull on a limb, etc.; a strain. 

  • An advantage over somebody; a means of influencing. 

  • The power to influence someone or something; sway, clout. 

  • A type of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the on side; a pull shot. 

verb
  • To strike the ball in a particular manner. (See noun sense.) 

  • To obtain (a permit) from a regulatory authority. 

  • To row. 

  • To draw beer from a pump, keg, or other source. 

  • To do or perform. 

  • To score a certain number of points in a sport. 

  • To attract or net; to pull in. 

  • To pull out from a yard or station; to leave. 

  • To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force. 

  • To achieve by rowing on a rowing machine. 

  • To pluck or pick (flowers, fruit etc.). 

  • To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck. 

  • To draw apart; to tear; to rend. 

  • To hold back, and so prevent from winning. 

  • To remove (something), especially from public circulation or availability. 

  • To toss a frisbee with the intention of launching the disc across the length of a field. 

  • To persuade (someone) to have sex with one: to be 'on the pull' - looking for a sexual partner. 

  • To retrieve or generate for use. 

  • To draw (a hostile non-player character) into combat, or toward or away from some location or target. 

  • To take a swig or mouthful of drink. 

  • To strain (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc.). 

  • To copy or emulate the actions or behaviour that is associated with the person or thing mentioned. 

intj
  • Command used by a target shooter to request that the target be released/launched. 

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