white knuckled

The former open, relaxed, receptive, the latter, white knuckled focus, bearing down on the task at hand.

As summer recedes, booksellers are awash in white-knuckled tales of suspense.

Henry Gregg started up in the carriage, his fists white-knuckled, his lean face turned toward the carriage crawling behind.

He strode forward with white-knuckled fists and a very unpleasant expression on his face.

Nothing but the straining, white-knuckled grip of his other hand modified the absolute, wilful insolence of his pose.

One of Feldman's white-knuckled hands reached for the attendant.