Х9
МЁРТВАЯ ХВАТКА,
usu. вцепиться в кого-что, держать кого-что и т. п. мёртвой хваткой
NPsing only) а very tight hold on
s.o. or
sth. : (seize (hold)
s.o. sth. in) a death (iron, mortal) grip(seize (hold, grip
etc)
s.o. sth. in) a stranglehold.
Originally referred to the way dogs and certain other animals tightly lock their jaws on a foe or prey through spasmodic muscular contraction.