Darren always drives the bike and I sit behind him, hanging on him like grim death.(CIDI)
Flupper would pretend to skid and go out of control: it was terrific --; we'd hang on like grim death to the rope. (BNC)
Teeth clenched, she held on like grim death, determined not to embarrass Penry Vaughan with a fit of hysterics just because she was in a boat again. (BNC)