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3. be in the grip of

be in the grip of

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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.

See also: grip, of

be 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.

See also: grip, of