pearl-clutching

American  

[purl kluhch-ing] / ˈpɜrl ˌklʌtʃ ɪŋ /

Or pearl clutching

noun

1. outrage or dramatic protest, especially from a woman, caused by something the person perceives as vulgar, in bad taste, or morally wrong but that does not elicit a similarly strong reaction from most other people.

   pearl-clutching over sexual jokes; so much fake pearl-clutching by the candidates.

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adjective

1. noting or relating to someone, especially a woman, who is easily offended or shocked by things the person perceives as vulgar, in bad taste, or morally wrong.

   pearl-clutching gasps from the audience; pearl-clutching conservatives.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pearl-clutcher
  noun
• pearl-clutch
  verb (used without object)

Etymology

Origin of pearl-clutching

First recorded in 2000–05; see origin at pearl ( def. ), clutch ¹ ( def. ), -ing ¹ ( def. ), -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

The result was another round of pearl-clutching when he spoke ill of Robert Mueller, who had died the day before.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Walz in particular has used the line that Trump is “weird” to great effect, treating Trump’s brashness not with pearl-clutching indignation but cheeky Midwest derision.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 2, 2024

But, for those who know what Britt sounds like regularly—quite normal!—the pearl-clutching act rang disingenuous and strange.

From Slate • Mar. 8, 2024

And yet here we are with the escapist new period drama “The Gilded Age,” which takes as its chief concern the pearl-clutching clash between old and new money in 19th-century New York high society.

From Washington Post • Jan. 23, 2022

And then they kissed — still very much a pearl-clutching move at the time, and one for which producer Wendy Walker took some heat.

From Salon • Nov. 27, 2021