cling on

cling on (third-person singular simple present clings on, present participle clinging on, simple past and past participle clung on)

1. (sometimes figurative) To hold on tightly; to grip hard or adhere.
   • 2011 December 29, Keith Jackson, “SPL: Celtic 1 Rangers 0”, in Daily Record‎:

     And although they were pushed harder than even Lennon might have expected on a night of galeforce winds, they clung on to the lead Ledley gave them for all they were worth until their rivals had blown themselves out and surrendered top spot.

   • 2021 December 29, Stephen Roberts, “Stories and facts behind railway plaques: Bournemouth (circa 1880)”, in RAIL, number 947, page 59:

     In a summation of changed times, we have a lost station site in Bournemouth (now occupied by a coach park) as well as its former hotel (still clinging on as apartments).

• cloning