เงื้อมมือ
clutches
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 clutches、grip、control
It refers to someone’s powerful grip or control over a person or thing, especially when escape is difficult.
clutches、grip、control
A powerful and often threatening form of control from which a person or thing cannot easily escape.
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ตกอยู่ในเงื้อมมือของศัตรู tòk yùu nay ŋʉ́am mʉʉ khɔ̌ɔŋ sàttruu fall into the enemy's clutches ตกอยู่ในเงื้อมมือของศัตรู details
Learning notes
Explanation
เงื้อมมือ is a figurative noun that evokes a hand gripping something so firmly that it cannot get away. Depending on context, it can be translated as “clutches,” “grip,” or “control.” It often describes control by an enemy, criminal, captor, or powerful organization, so it commonly carries a threatening or dramatic tone. The controlling party is not necessarily wrong or evil, however; the word may also appear when the law or police have someone within their reach. Common patterns include ตกอยู่ในเงื้อมมือของ A, “fall into A’s clutches,” อยู่ในเงื้อมมือของ A, “be in A’s grip,” and พ้น／รอดพ้นจากเงื้อมมือของ A, “escape A’s clutches.”
Usage
This word commonly appears in news reports and stories involving captives, criminals, enemies, or oppressive powers. It is especially useful for describing someone falling under another party’s control, remaining trapped there, or escaping or being rescued from it. It can also refer to evading the reach of the law.
Caution
Do not use เงื้อมมือ merely for physically holding an object; use expressions such as ในมือ (“in one’s hand”) or ถือ (“hold”) instead. It may also sound overly dramatic when referring to routine supervision or neutral administrative authority.
Differences from similar words
1 clutches synonyms
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อำนาจ is a broad, often neutral word for power or authority. เงื้อมมือ suggests a confining grip from which escape is difficult, so it carries more tension.
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อำนาจครอบงำ directly means dominating power or influence over someone. เงื้อมมือ is more figurative and vividly presents the controlled person or thing as being caught in someone’s grip.