ride the clutch

verb

To slip the clutch (of a manual transmission) excessively, such that its working life will be shortened; especially, to keep one's foot or hand on the clutch pedal or lever even when no slipping of the clutch is needed.

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Meanings

verbride the clutch (third-person singular simple present rides the clutch, present participle riding the clutch, simple past rode the clutch, past participle ridden the clutch)

present singular third person rides the clutch · participle present riding the clutch · past rode the clutch · participle past ridden the clutch

  1. To slip the clutch (of a manual transmission) excessively, such that its working life will be shortened; especially, to keep one's foot or hand on the clutch pedal or lever even when no slipping of the clutch is needed.

    In Sydney you'd better be riding the clutch and completely in sync with the traffic lights so that your car is already moving as they turn green.

    2005, Paul Carter, Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs, Crows Nest: Allen and Unwin, page 65
Cite this entry
APA

ride the clutch. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ride%20the%20clutch

MLA

“ride the clutch.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ride%20the%20clutch. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ride the clutch,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ride%20the%20clutch.

Source: ride the clutch on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.