white-knuckle meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

white-knuckle

adj

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

Idiomatic Causing fear, excitement, apprehension, suspense, or nervousness.

"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:
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

1 more example

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:

verb

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

To endure despite feeling terror, fear, apprehension, anxiety, discomfort, or torment.

The rest of the drive home I white knuckled it.2010, Tanya Ebert, Mystical Puzzle, page 24:
“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:

2 more examples

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:
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:

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):