# grind on

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grind-on
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to continue for a long time in a way that is boring, slow, or annoying.

For teachers: to proceed in a tedious, protracted, or relentless manner; often used to describe events, processes, or time periods that lack excitement or resolution.

## Examples

- The meeting grinds on for hours without a break.
- As the legal battle grinds on, both families are becoming exhausted by the rising costs and stress.
- The winter grinds on with relentless grey skies and freezing winds, testing the patience of even the most resilient residents.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The war grinds on us." but "The war grinds on." — in this sense, 'grind on' is usually intransitive; if you want to say it affects someone, use 'grind someone down'.

## Usage notes

- usually used with subjects like 'war', 'meeting', 'process', or 'winter' to emphasize boredom or difficulty.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'carry on' (neutral) or 'drag on' (similar, but 'grind on' implies a harsher, more mechanical or wearing quality); use the image of gears grinding to anchor the meaning.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.