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English (US)

Meaning of pearl-clutching in English

pearl-clutching
noun [ U ]
us
/ˈpɝːl ˌklʌtʃ.ɪŋ/ uk
/ˈpɜːl ˌklʌtʃ.ɪŋ/
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disapproving
a very shocked reaction, especially one in which you show more shock than you really feel in order to show that you think something is morally wrong:
Talking about sex always causes a bit of pearl-clutching.
His fake pearl-clutching was only intended to make her angry.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Feeling morally superior
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pearl-clutching
adjective
us
/ˈpɝːl ˌklʌtʃ.ɪŋ/ uk
/ˈpɜːl ˌklʌtʃ.ɪŋ/
disapproving
having a very shocked reaction to something, especially showing more shock than you really feel in order to show that you think something is morally wrong:
They expressed pearl-clutching horror that she was an unmarried mother.
pearl-clutching hypocrisy
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Reacting and responding
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(Definition of pearl-clutching from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
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Translations of pearl-clutching

in Chinese (Traditional)
表示震驚及大不贊同，抓狂, 表示出震驚及大不贊同的，抓狂的…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
表示震惊及大不赞同，抓狂, 表示出震惊及大不赞同的，（对某事）抓狂的…
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