clincher

American  

[klin-cher] / ˈklɪn tʃər /

noun

1. a person or thing that clinches.

2. a statement, argument, fact, situation, or the like, that is decisive or conclusive.

   The heat was the clincher that made us decide to leave the city.

3. a nail, screw, etc., for clinching.

4. Automotive. a clincher tire.

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clincher British  

/ ˈklɪntʃə /

noun

1. informal something decisive, such as a fact, score, etc

2. a person or thing that clinches

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Etymology

Origin of clincher

1485–95; variant of Middle English clencher ( clench + -er ¹ )

Example Sentences

“To me this was the clincher,” Matthiesen later said in an interview.

From The Wall Street Journal

Maybe it’s just easier to say, This is the clincher, than admit there’s no such thing.

From Literature

The defence flagged alarmingly late on, losing speed and structure as Argentina scored a last-minute try and came within metres of a last-play clincher.

From BBC

Then again, Walker Buehler wasn’t part of the Dodgers’ plans for their World Series clincher last year.

From Los Angeles Times

They might as well use him as a closer, and they might as well use him in a World Series clincher, either in Game 6 or 7.

From Los Angeles Times