was squeezing, was tightening
Il serrait sa mallette dans sa main.
He clutched his briefcase in his hand.
Si on se serrait ?
What if we squeezed together?
— Vivre (1952)
Il me serrait fort dans ses petits bras.
He held me tightly in his little arms.
— Ménage (1986)
C'était étrange et, j'ignore pourquoi, cela me serrait le cœur.
It was strange and, I don't know why, it made my heart ache.
— Le Conte de la princesse Kaguya (2013)