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grip
get to grips with (someone or something)
To begin or make an effort to understand, accept, and deal with a difficult or problematic person, thing, or situation. I should have the report ready for you by this afternoon, I just need to get to grips with this new software update first. I've tried, but I just can't get to grips with Amy, she's totally out of control!
grip on (something)
1. A good physical hold on something. In order to remove the bolt, I needed to get a grip on the wrench.
2. A newfound understanding of a topic or concept. The teacher spent extra time going over the material in class because she wanted her students to have a good grip on the subject matter before they took the exam.
grip on (oneself)
Control of one's reactions or emotions. After losing her job, Sarah needed to calm down and get a grip on herself in order to drive home safely. You're not going to be able to think clearly until you get a grip on yourself.
be in the grip of
To suffer from or struggle with something that one cannot control. I'm sorry I never called you back, I've been in the grip of illness for days. Many young people can't afford to live on their own because they are in the grip of student loan debt.
come to grips with someone or something
Fig. to begin to deal with someone or something difficult or challenging in a sensible way. We must all come to grips with this tragedy. I cannot come to grips with Ed and his problems.
grab someone's attention
and get someone's attention; grip someone's attentionFig. to draw or attract someone's attention. The bright colors on the poster are there to grab your attention. The scary movie gripped my attention.
*a grip on oneself
Fig. control of one's emotions. (*Typically: get ~ have ~.) Calm down, man! Get a grip on yourself! I encouraged him to get a grip on himself.
*a grip on something
1. and *a hold on something Lit. a good grasp on something. (*Typically: get ~ have ~ give someone ~.) Try to get a grip on the ropes and pull yourself up. You should get a hold on the knob and turn it firmly.
2. Fig. a thorough knowledge of some topic. (*Typically: get ~ have ~ give someone ~.) I need to have a grip on the basics of accounting. Try to get a hold on all the facts first.
keep a firm grip on someone or something
and keep a tight grip on someone or something 1. Lit. to hold on to someone or something tightly. As they approached the edge, Sally kept a firm grip on little Timmy. She kept a tight grip on him. Keep a firm grip on my hand as we cross the street.
2. Fig. to keep someone or something under firm control. The manager keeps a firm grip on all the employees. I try to keep a firm grip on all the accounts.
lose one's hold on someone or something
and lose one's grip on someone or something 1. Lit. to fail to keep one's handhold on someone or something. I lost my hold on the child, and she nearly slipped away. She lost her grip on the bag of jewels and it fell overboard.
2. and lose one's hold over someone or something Fig. to give up control over someone or something. The manager lost her hold on her employees and was fired. Fred is losing his grip on his workers. He is losing his hold over his empire.
take a firm grip on someone or something
1. Lit. to grasp someone or something tightly. The police officer took a firm grip on Fred and led him to the squad car. Mary took a firm grip on the handle and pulled hard.
2. Fig. to gain control of someone or something. You will have to take a firm grip on Andrew. He has a mind of his own. Someone needs to take a firm grip on this department and get it organized.
get a grip (on yourself)
(spoken) to control your emotions I know it's hard, but get a grip on yourself and tell me what you saw. Oh, get a grip, Tess! It's really not as bad as you think.
get a grip (on something)
to understand how to deal with something The program will have helpful tips on how to get a grip on your finances. Something is obviously not right in our organization, and we must get a grip on the problem.
in the grip of something
controlled by something The country was in the grip of a continuing and deep depression. She sways and stomps and even cries when she's in the grip of her music-making.
lose your/its grip
to be unable to control something
Changes in your body can make you feel like you're losing your grip. For many years now the old political parties have been losing their grip on the South. Related vocabulary:
lose it come to grips with something
to make an effort to understand and deal with a problem or situation The whole community is struggling to come to grips with these kids' deaths.
Related vocabulary: come to terms with somethingbe in the grip of something
to be experiencing something unpleasant that you have no control over The country is currently in the grip of the worst recession for twenty years.
get a grip (on yourself)
to make an effort to control your emotions and behave more calmly Come on, get a grip, we've got an important meeting in five minutes. I just think he ought to get a grip on himself - he's behaving like a child.
have a grip on something
to have control over something Certainly in the first half England didn't seem to have a grip on the game.
See lose gripcome/get to grips with something
to make an effort to understand and deal with a problem or situation It's further proof of the government's failure to get to grips with two of the most important social issues of our time.
lose your grip
to lose your ability to control or deal with a situation He was losing his grip at work and knew it was time to retire. (often + on ) It suggests that the ruling party is losing its grip on the middle classes in some of the bigger cities.
come to grips with
Confront squarely, deal decisively with, as in Her stories help the children come to grips with upsetting events. This term, sometimes put as get to grips with, employs grip in the sense of a "tight hold." [Mid-1900s]
get a grip on
Also, have a grip on. Obtain mastery or control over something or someone. For example, Get a grip on yourself or the reporters will give you a hard time, or, as Arthur Conan Doyle put it in Sherlock Holmes (1894): "I have a grip on the essential facts of the case." This expression transfers a firm physical hold to emotional or intellectual control. [Late 1800s]
lose one's grip
Also lose it.
1. Fail to maintain control or one's ability to function, as in Ted wasn't running things the way he used to, and his boss thought he might be losing his grip , or I thought I was losing it when I couldn't remember the words to that old song. The first term dates from the mid-1800s, the slangy variant from the mid-1900s.
2. Fail to keep one's composure, as in
When Billy broke the window, Dad just lost his grip and let him have it, or
I just can't deal with this many visitors-I must be losing it. [
Slang; first half of 1900s] Also see
lose one's temper.
in the grip of the grape
mod. drunk on wine; drunk. Wayne was in the grip of the grape and couldn’t talk straight.
key grip
n. the head laborer on a movie set. (Filmmaking.) The key grip has a complaint that could hold up production.
lose one’s grip
and lose one’s hold tv. to lose one’s control over something. When I begin to lose my grip, I will just quit. The old man is clearly losing his hold.
come to grips with
To confront squarely and attempt to deal decisively with: "He had to come to grips with the proposition" (Louis Auchincloss).