pearl-clutching

or pearl clutch·ing

[ purl kluhch-ing ]

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.

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 Words From

• pearl-clutch verb (used without object)
• pearl-clutch·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pearl-clutching¹

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

Example Sentences

By the end of the season the pearl-clutching Crawleys reformed her.

From The Daily Beast