a claw held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a claw held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are describing a situation involving a claw that is being held or grasped, possibly in a literal or metaphorical sense. Example: "The creature emerged from the shadows, its sharp claws held menacingly in the air."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Swanlon put out a claw, held it there.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

With his catcher's mask still on -- an unmanly sight in the Red Sox' world of "Cowboy Up" -- Varitek put a claw hold on Rodriguez's face, provoking a free-for-all that left everyone channeling Don Zimmer at Fenway Park.

The New York Times - Sports

The enlarged second toe bore an unusually large, curved sickle-shaped claw (held off the ground or 'retracted' when walking), which is thought to have been used in capturing prey and climbing trees (see "Claw function" below).

Wikipedia

An X-ray image of her spine that she keeps on her phone shows what appears to be a softball-sized claw holding her lumbar spine together.

The New York Times - Sports

It walks on hind legs, front claws held up out of harm's way and tail extended as a counter-balance.

Independent

There are clams from Canada, abalone from South Africa, locally caught crabs with their claws held closed by elastic bands.

Independent

Captured prey were always held between the base of the tarsi, with the tarsal claws held away from the prey (Fig. 7A,B).

Plosone

In a prong setting, metal claws hold the edge of the gemstone in place.

WikiHow

setting, metal claws hold the edge of the gemstone in place.

WikiHow

At 6 feet 7 inches and 275 pounds or so, Kowalski was a formidable figure who delighted in applying his claw hold, a thumb squeeze to an opponent's solar plexus, when he was not leaping from the top strand of the ropes and descending on his foe's chest.

The New York Times - Sports

The claw that held the basketball had been custom-built in Germany.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "a claw held" when you want to depict something being firmly grasped or restrained by a claw, often implying a sense of power or tension.

Common error

While "a claw held" can be evocative, be mindful of overusing it in contexts where a more straightforward description would be clearer. Overuse can lead to melodrama or unintentional humor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a claw held" functions as a noun phrase, with "claw" as the noun and "held" acting as a past participle adjective modifying the noun. It describes the state of the claw. As Ludwig explains, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a claw held" is grammatically correct and depicts something being grasped by a claw. According to Ludwig, the phrase can be used literally or figuratively to convey a sense of strength and grip. Usage contexts range from news and media to scientific and general writing. While not a very common expression, it is well-formed. Depending on the desired nuance, alternatives such as "a claw gripping" or "a grasped claw" may also be suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A grasped claw

Focuses on the action of grasping rather than the state of being held.

A claw gripping

Emphasizes the firm and forceful nature of the hold.

A claw clutching

Implies a desperate or tight hold.

A claw maintaining its grip

Highlights the continuous nature of the holding action.

A claw securing

Focuses on the outcome of the holding action – making something secure.

A claw fixed

Highlights that the claw is in a static position.

A claw that's clasped

Describes the shape and the position of the claw.

A talon held

Replaces "claw" with a semantically similar word.

A hand held like a claw

Emphasizes on the position of a hand resembling a claw.

A paw held

Replaces "claw" with a semantically similar word in case the species is a mammal.

FAQs

How can I use "a claw held" in a sentence?

You can use "a claw held" to describe something being gripped tightly. For example, "The eagle swooped down, its "a claw held" firmly around the fish".

What are some alternatives to "a claw held"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a claw gripping", "a claw clutching", or "a grasped claw".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a claw held"?

It's most appropriate when describing a literal claw holding something, or when using it metaphorically to suggest a strong, tenacious grip.

Is "a claw held" formal or informal?

The phrase itself is relatively neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts depending on the overall writing style.