clutching one's pearls

A form of clutch one's pearls — To react with consternation to someone or something that violates the usual norms.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of clutch one's pearls
Cite this entry
APA

clutching one's pearls. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clutching%20one's%20pearls

MLA

“clutching one's pearls.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clutching%20one's%20pearls. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clutching one's pearls,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clutching%20one's%20pearls.

Source: clutching one's pearls on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.