To cling to or hold on to someone or something; to depend on or embrace closely, either physically or emotionally.
小さな子が母親の足にすがりついた。
The little child clung to his mother's leg.
彼は困ったときに人にすがりつく癖がある。
He has a habit of clinging to others when he's in trouble.
台風の夜、壊れそうな門柱にすがりついて雨風をやりすごした。
On the night of the typhoon, I held onto a shaky gatepost to shelter from the storm.