Hang on to (someone or something) like grim death British verb phrase
To grip, grasp or hold someone or something tightly because you do not want to lose it or fall
As soon as the branch broke off, I hung on to another branch like grim death.
The verb "hang" should be conjugated according to its tense.
People tend to like forbidden or illegal things just because they are forbidden or illegal.
He must have believed that stolen fruit is the sweetest, and he, therefore, cheated on his partner.