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gain
gain the upper hand
To come to be in a position of advantage, power, and/or control (over someone, something, or some situation). We've been doing everything we can for your father, but I'm afraid the cancer is gaining the upper hand. The home team gained the upper hand when their opponents' star quarterback went out with an injury.
gain ground against (something)
In finance, especially regarding currency, to increase in value in comparison to something else. With Europe's economy still struggling to recover, the US Dollar continued to gain ground against the Euro on Friday.
what you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts
The losses, setbacks, or negative aspects of a certain situation are offset or balanced by equally advantageous or positive elements, or vice versa. (The formation of the phrase can also be reversed.) Primarily heard in UK. This promotion has meant I can provide for my family much more easily, but it's so demanding that I don't see them all that much—what you gain on the swings, you lose on the roundabouts. People here complain about the high level of taxes, but what you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts—if I were to go into the hospital tomorrow for a major operation, I wouldn't pay a thing.
a penny saved is a penny gained
Every small amount helps to build one's savings (i.e. by saving a penny, you have one more penny). I'm trying not to spend much money right now because, you know what they say, a penny saved is a penny gained .
gain entrance
To enter a place or location upon acquiring permission or a means of access. After getting the security guard's attention, we were able to gain entrance to the building.
gain dominion over someone or something
to achieve total authority over someone or something. The dictator sought to gain dominion over the entire country. Harry was not happy until he had gained dominion over the people who worked for him.
gain from something
to benefit from something. I hope you gain from this experience. What do you think I will gain from this?
gain ground
to make progress; to advance; to become more important or popular. Our new product is gaining ground against that of our competitor. Since the government announced its new policies, the opposition has been gaining ground.
gain in something
to advance in a particular quality. Todd grew in stature and gained in wisdom. Mary gained in experience as the weeks went on.
gain on someone or something
to begin to catch up or move ahead of someone or something. We were gaining on them when they suddenly sped up. Our horse was gaining on the horse in front.
gain something by doing something
to achieve some benefit by doing something. What did he gain by dropping out of school? I will gain some degree of security by investing in U.S. Treasury bonds.
gain something from something
to earn or achieve something from something. I hope you gain something worthwhile from all this. I know I will gain some valuable experience from this job.
ill-gotten gains
money or other possessions acquired in a dishonest or illegal fashion. Bill cheated at cards and is now living on his ill-gotten gains. Mary is enjoying her ill-gotten gains. She deceived an old lady into leaving her $5,000 in her will.
No pain, no gain.
Fig. If you want to improve, you must work so hard that it hurts. (Associated with sports and physical exercise.) Player: I can't do any more push-ups. My muscles hurt. Coach: No pain, no gain. Come on, everybody! Run one more lap! No pain, no gain!
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
If you do not take risks, you will never accomplish anything. Bill: Should I ask my boss for a promotion? Jane: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I think I'll audition for a part in that play. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
One man's loss is another man's gain.
Prov. When one person loses something, another person gets it. (You can substitute appropriate names or pronouns for the phrases one man's and another man's, as in the second example.) Mike found a five-dollar bill on the sidewalk. "One man's loss is another man's gain," he thought to himself, as he took the money. Jane: Andy just got fired. Jill: I know. And Andy's loss is my gain; I'm getting promoted to his job!
gain ground
to become more successful The United States is gaining ground as a cotton producer.
Opposite of: lose groundgain ground on somebody/something
to get a bigger share compared to others The company's software business is gaining ground on its biggest competitor.
Opposite of: lose ground to somebody/somethingEtymology: based on the military meaning of gain ground (to advance and get control of an area from an enemy)
gain ground
if a political party or a belief gains ground, it becomes more popular or accepted (often in continuous tenses) The Republicans are gaining ground in the Southern states.
See have the upper handNothing ventured, nothing gained.
something that you say which means that it is necessary to take risks in order to achieve something We tried to make television programmes that were new and different, and we weren't always successful, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
it's swings and roundabouts
(British & Australian) also what you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts (British & Australian) something that you say to describe a situation in which there are as many advantages as there are problems If you make more money, you have to pay more tax, so what we gain on the swings, we lose on the roundabouts. It's swings and roundabouts, really. If you save money by buying a house out of town, you pay more to travel to work.
gain ground
1. Advance, make progress; also, win acceptance. For example,
The new conservation policy is gaining ground among the voters. This expression alludes to a military advance in which an army literally takes territory from the enemy. Its figurative use dates from about 1800. For an antonym, see
lose ground.
2. gain ground on or upon . Encroach on, advance at the expense of. For example, Door-to-door canvassing helped them gain ground on the opposition.
ill-gotten gains
Benefits obtained in an evil manner or by dishonest means, as in They duped their senile uncle into leaving them a fortune and are now enjoying their ill-gotten gains . [Mid-1800s]
no pain, no gain
Suffering is needed to make progress, as in I've worked for hours on those irregular French verbs, but no pain, no gain. Although this idiom is often associated with athletic coaches who urge athletes to train harder, it dates from the 1500s and was already in John Ray's proverb collection of 1670 as "Without pains, no gains."
nothing ventured, nothing gained
One must take risks to achieve something, as in
They quit their jobs, packed up, and moved to Wisconsin, saying "nothing ventured, nothing gained." Although this adage has appeared in slightly different form since the late 1300s, it was first recorded in this form only in 1624. For another version, see
no pain, no gain.
gain in
v. To increase with respect to something: The athlete gained in strength, but lost in agility.
gain on
v. To get closer to something or someone, often in pursuit; close a gap: Run faster—the stampeding cattle are gaining on us!
gain ground
To progress, advance, or increase: Stock prices gained ground yesterday.
gain time
1. To run too fast. Used of a timepiece.
2. To delay or prolong something until a desired event occurs.
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Reinaldo | | - | Portuguese, Spanish |
| Behram | | - | Turkish |
| Muirgel | | - | Irish |
| Twila | | TWIE-lə | English |
| Robyn | | RAH-bin | English |
| Wiebe | | VEE-bə (Dutch, German), WEE-bə (Dutch) | Frisian, Dutch, German |