Verb (used with object) : After they clinched the deal they went out to celebrate. ,He drove the nails through the board and clinched the points flat with a hammer.    From Dictionary.com. 

Verb (used without object) : The boxers clinched and were separated by the referee.    From Dictionary.com. 

The win clinched the season series for Detroit, 2-1.    From Wordnik.com.  [USATODAY.com - Basketball - Miami vs. Detroit] Reference

The win clinched a berth in the 2007 World Grand Prix.    From Wordnik.com.  [USATODAY.com - Athlete of the Week Wariner pushes all-time best in 400 meters] Reference

The win clinched the Northeast Division title for Boston.    From Wordnik.com.  [USATODAY.com] Reference

Just like when McCain clinched the nomination Paul stayed.    From Wordnik.com.  [Obama closes in on Clinton superdelegate total] Reference

The win clinched at least a share of a third straight Pac-10.    From Wordnik.com.  [NCAA Men's Basketball - Stanford vs. Ucla] Reference

The win clinched home-field advantage throughout the National.    From Wordnik.com.  [National League – Major League Baseball - Atlanta vs. New York Mets] Reference

The win clinched San Antonio's 10th straight winning road season.    From Wordnik.com.  [USATODAY.com - Basketball - San Antonio vs. Houston] Reference

Rubin clinched it Sunday by defeating Francesca Schiavone 5-7, 6-4, 6-0.    From Wordnik.com.  [USATODAY.com - Rubin leads U.S. second-stringers to semifinals] Reference

Prince Group from Bhubaneswar is famous for the 'India's Got Talent' title clinched by its.    From Wordnik.com.  [Top Headlines] Reference

The win clinched a playoff spot for the Magic, who currently are the No. 3 seed in the East.    From Wordnik.com.  [USATODAY.com] Reference

The win clinched Group B for the Americans, who will face Group A winner Canada on Saturday for the title.    From Wordnik.com.  [U.S. women beat Italy 2-0 to reach Peace Queen Cup title game] Reference

Spain clinched first place with the win and set up a game against Ireland on Sunday in Suwon, South Korea.    From Wordnik.com.  [USATODAY.com - Heartbreak for South Africans] Reference

The win clinched the C-USA East Division title for the Pirates and a spot in the conference championship game.    From Wordnik.com.  [USATODAY.com] Reference

Alberto Contador of Spain clinched his third Vuelta de Castilla and Leon title by finishing safely in the pack in the race's fifth and.    From Wordnik.com.  [Cycling News, Reports & Coverage] Reference

So, when we say "clinched" - for all practical purposes, we are correct.    From Wordnik.com.  [Hillary Spokesperson: She Is Not Conceding] Reference

The very name clinched it: I loved the desolate melancholy it evoked.    From Wordnik.com.  [Where I find inspiration …] Reference

It seemed like they had the National League East title clinched by the All-Star Game.    From Wordnik.com.  [USATODAY.com - Cox deserves raves for job he does with Braves] Reference

Obama "clinched" the Nomination back in February when he ran off 11 straight victories.    From Wordnik.com.  [Obama about to clinch victory, aide says] Reference

So, that just kind of clinched it in my mind, that now is the time to share this with the employees.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Apr 6, 2009] Reference

This arrangement was as the West puts it "clinched" by a Resolution of Congress, making Ogden the terminus.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Story of the First Trans-Continental Railroad Its Projectors, Construction and History] Reference

The pouncing eagle bears in clinched claws.    From Wordnik.com.  [Canto III] Reference

Moya's win clinched the Davis Cup for Spain.    From Wordnik.com.  [USATODAY.com - Roddick can't solve clay; Spain claims Davis Cup] Reference

Here is our experience that kind of clinched it for me.    From Wordnik.com.  [KansasCity.com: Front Page] Reference

They "clinched" in gallant style, using all three weapons, -- wings, beak, and feet.    From Wordnik.com.  [Popular Adventure Tales] Reference

They "clinched" and threw each other back and forth across the hall with great vigor.    From Wordnik.com.  [Remarks] Reference

Indeed, the Oilers "clinched" 15th in the 15-team Western Conference with the loss last night.    From Wordnik.com.  [Edmonton Sun] Reference

What word clinched the title?.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript May 28, 2009] Reference

  Little bleating sounds came from her clinched body.    From Wordnik.com.  [Out of That Bed 1963] Reference

Once Obama clinched the nomination, however, his rhetoric changed.    From Wordnik.com.  [Lawrence Lessig: On the Rage of Gibbs] Reference

The gesture is a strong indication that the sale has been clinched.    From Wordnik.com.  [Follow The Eyes] Reference

The Yankees clinched the pennant Sept. 4, earlier than any team before or since.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Season Of '41] Reference

"Yesterday," he wrote, "we clinched victory in the Pacific, but we sowed the whirlwind.".    From Wordnik.com.  [Arms Control: The End Of The Beginning?] Reference

Michael Eisner, chairman of the Walt Disney Co., clinched his bid for ABC in eight days.    From Wordnik.com.  [How Eisner Saved Disney--And Himself] Reference

 I gave it to her and started to squirm around; it was cold and my stomach clinched up.    From Wordnik.com.  [My First Sonogram] Reference

The '98 Yanks had long since clinched -- they were on cruise control, and waiting for the playoffs.    From Wordnik.com.  [Joe's Last Deal] Reference

That prophetic joke was in a March 2007 episode, long before either man had clinched the nomination.    From Wordnik.com.  [Why Obama Needs a Tina Fey] Reference

Even now, Arafat is not sure a final accord would have been clinched with Barak: "Approximately, approximately," he says.    From Wordnik.com.  [And For His Next Act ...] Reference

For all Khalilzad's aggressive ground-work, it appears to have been clinched not by him but by the United Nations envoy Ashraf Qazi.    From Wordnik.com.  [Diplomacy: Has the Dealmaker Lost His Touch?] Reference