Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

To clinch the issue

Decide

The most appropriate meaning of the idiom "to clinch the issue" is to decide. It is used to describe the act of resolving a matter or settling an argument. The idiom comes from the idea of literally clinching something, which means to grasp it tightly. In the context of an argument, this means to present an argument that is so convincing that it cannot be denied.

For example, you might say "The judge's decision clinched the issue and the case was dismissed" or "The lawyer's closing argument clinched the issue and the jury found the defendant guilty."

The other meanings of the idiom are:

• Distressed: feeling worried or upset
• To deceive: to mislead someone
• To hesitate: to delay or postpone a decision or action