cling to something (also cling on to something) phrasal verb (see also cling)

1. to continue to believe or do something, even though it may not be true or useful any longer
cling to the hope/belief/idea etc (that)
He clung to the hope that she would be cured.

2. to stay in a position of power or stay ahead, when this is difficult, or to try to do this:
an attempt to cling to power

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲