to claw at something
1claw back — transitive verb ( s) chiefly Britain : to get back (as money) by strenuous or forceful means (as taxation) increases for farm spending … will have to be clawed back Economist • clawback ˈ ̷ ̷ ˌ ̷ ̷ noun chiefly Britain * * * claw back [phrasal… …
2claw — [[t]klɔ͟ː[/t]] claws, clawing, clawed 1) N COUNT: usu pl The claws of a bird or animal are the thin, hard, curved nails at the end of its feet. The cat tried to cling to the edge by its claws. 2) N COUNT: usu pl The claws of a lobster, crab, or… …
3claw — [klɔː ǁ klɒː] verb claw back phrasal verb 1. [transitive] claw something → back FINANCE if a company claws back shares, it takes back new shares that it had offered to its present shareholders, but they do not want to buy, and offers them to… …
4claw your way out of something — claw your way out of something/to something/back etc/ phrase to reach a particular place, situation, or state, as a result of great effort or despite great difficulties or opposition The West Indians had clawed their way back into the match.… …
5claw your way to something — claw your way out of something/to something/back etc/ phrase to reach a particular place, situation, or state, as a result of great effort or despite great difficulties or opposition The West Indians had clawed their way back into the match.… …
6claw your way back from something — claw your way back from (something) if you claw your way back from a bad situation, you succeed in improving your situation again by making a big effort. They clawed their way back from almost certain defeat to win by a single point …
7claw your way back — claw your way out of something/to something/back etc/ phrase to reach a particular place, situation, or state, as a result of great effort or despite great difficulties or opposition The West Indians had clawed their way back into the match.… …
8claw — ► NOUN 1) a curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot in birds, lizards, and some mammals. 2) the pincer of a crab, scorpion, or other arthropod. ► VERB 1) scratch or tear at with the claws or fingernails. 2) (claw away) try… …
9claw your way back something of something something — claw your way back, into sth, out of sth, to sth, etc. idiom to gradually achieve sth or move somewhere by using a lot of determination and effort • She clawed her way to the top of her profession. • Slowly, he clawed his way out from under the… …
10claw your way into something of something something — claw your way back, into sth, out of sth, to sth, etc. idiom to gradually achieve sth or move somewhere by using a lot of determination and effort • She clawed her way to the top of her profession. • Slowly, he clawed his way out from under the… …
