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Darry wants to find what happening in the pipeline, so he took sister Trisha's help by holding his legs to see what's happening in the pipeline. Some rats suddenly start coming at them, so she drops him and he falls into the pipeline.

Trisha: There were rats coming at my face.

Darry: They were running at me too, Trish.

Trisha: I feel really bad. Are you okay?

Darry: Thank you so much, by the way.Thank you for this. Trisha Jenner, coming through in the clutch.

Can someone explain the highlighted phrase?

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  • Please wait at least a day before accepting an answer. See this meta post for more information.
    – Ben Kovitz
    May 28, 2017 at 12:55
  • I'm a native AmE speaker, and the quotation doesn't make sense to me. It sounds like Trisha failed "in the clutch". When the "chips were down", she "dropped the ball", or rather, she dropped Darry. Where is this passage from? Maybe more context would help clarify the intended meaning—or if it's a mistake.
    – Ben Kovitz
    May 28, 2017 at 12:59
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    @BenKovitz I read it as a sarcastic or ironic comment.
    – Hellion
    May 28, 2017 at 14:57
  • @Hellion Ah, good idea. If that's correct, it should go in an answer.
    – Ben Kovitz
    May 28, 2017 at 15:55
  • @BenKovitz as I mentioned in a comment on my own answer below, I wasn't sure enough to say it was definitively sarcastic, as I could see a scenario in which it wasn't. Given that others have agreed, I have added a clarification to my answer.
    – Cantalouping
    May 28, 2017 at 18:50

1 Answer 1

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There are two components to this phrase to break down.

come through:

  1. [for someone] to do what one is expected to do, especially under difficult conditions

With regards to in the clutch, we have to look at the definition of clutch. In this context, Darry is using it in the same way it is often used in sports. In sports it is often used to describe players who can make the best plays even when the pressure is highest. For a person to be good in the clutch means to be able to perform in those critical moments, regardless of the pressure or stakes riding on the outcome of the game or match they're participating in.

So just taking in the clutch on its own, it means those moments where the stakes and the pressure are at their highest.

Combining these two definitions, to be coming through in the clutch means that Trisha has followed through and helped Darry, right when he needed it most.

However, before Darry says this, Trisha drops him when they're confronted by rats. This is the opposite of being clutch, so Darry is likely being sarcastic in his comment, saying that Trisha choked under pressure.

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    It's clear from context, however, that she didn't actually help him when he needed it, she dropped him as soon as they were in trouble. So I would have to say that Darry is using the phrase ironically or sarcastically.
    – Hellion
    May 28, 2017 at 14:56
  • I did consider that, but without further context I wasn't willing to claim it was sarcastic or ironic. Given that a few other people seem to agree it was, I will add it to my answer.
    – Cantalouping
    May 28, 2017 at 18:44

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