Dictionary

white-knuckle en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Evoking the imagery of tightly clenched hands with reduced bloodflow to the knuckles.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, not-comparable) Causing fear, excitement, apprehension, suspense, or nervousness.
   • Most of the Denver-based Monitor writer’s work is less white-knuckle. 2025 November 14, Clayton Collins, Jingnan Peng, “Getting access and clarity on the immigration beat: ‘I just ask. And ask again.’”, in The Christian Science Monitor:
   • BP said its capped-off well appeared to be holding steady Friday morning, almost midway into a white-knuckle waiting period in which engineers watched the pressure gauges for signs of a leak. 2010 July 16, Colleen Long and Harry R. Weber, "BP capped well holding nearly a day into new fix", Associated Press wire
   • "No surprise given both Bellamy and White share - or have inherited - Hendrix's unique blend of experimental instincts and white-knuckle showmanship," said Mr Goldsmith. 2009 November 27, “Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child has 'best guitar riff'”, in BBC:

Forms

Deriveds

white-knuckle ride

Translations (6)

de erregend (causing fear, excitement, apprehension, suspense or nervousness) · de dramatisch (causing fear, excitement, apprehension, suspense or nervousness) · de aufregend (causing fear, excitement, apprehension, suspense or nervousness) · de spannungsvoll (causing fear, excitement, apprehension, suspense or nervousness) · de nervenaufreibend (causing fear, excitement, apprehension, suspense or nervousness) · de spannend (causing fear, excitement, apprehension, suspense or nervousness)

white-knuckle en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Evoking the imagery of tightly clenched hands with reduced bloodflow to the knuckles.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To endure despite feeling terror, fear, apprehension, anxiety, discomfort, or torment.
   • Some J-CATs didn't even take medication, meaning they white-knuckle this lifestyle, possibly unaware of their deviation from reality and normality. 2023, Justin Cook, Infectious Injustice:
   • “I white-knuckled it down there. Went as fast as I could. I didn't tell anyone I was going. When I got there, they wouldn't let me in. Because I wasn't family.” 2017, Susan Mallery, Maisey Yates, Baby, It's Christmas & Hold Me, Cowboy:
   • The rest of the drive home I white knuckled it. 2010, Tanya Ebert, Mystical Puzzle, page 24:
   • There’s an industry term for white-knuckling it through crypto’s wild volatility without selling: “hodl.” 2021 April 25, Erin Griffith, “We’re All Crypto People Now”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
2. (transitive) To grip tightly in fear, apprehension, suspense, or nervousness.
   • That lifting sensation is so strong, I inadvertently feel myself white-knuckling the hand grips. 2020 November 2, a425couple, “Honda Pulls Mario Andretti From Driving the Two-Seater IndyCar”, in rec.autos.sport.nascar (Usenet):

Forms

Translations (2)

de durchkämpfen (to endure) · de durchbeißen (to endure)