grip
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a firm, strong hold on something with your hand.
n.a firm manual hold or the manner in which an object is grasped.
Simple“He kept a tight grip on his daughter's hand while they crossed the busy street.”
In context“The climber maintained a steady grip on the limestone ledge, waiting for his breathing to slow before making the next move.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.control over a situation, or a clear understanding of a difficult subject.
n.intellectual mastery or effective control over a person, group, or situation.
Simple“The new manager quickly got a grip on the company's financial problems.”
In context“The administration struggled to maintain its grip on the narrative as contradictory reports began to emerge from the border.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.the ability of something, like a tyre or shoe, to stay on a surface without sliding.
n.the friction between a body and the surface on which it moves, preventing slippage.
Simple“These new winter tyres have much better grip on icy roads.”
In context“The racing driver complained that the rear tyres were losing grip during high-speed cornering, forcing a premature pit stop.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.a person who handles equipment, like cameras and lights, on a film set.
n.a technician responsible for the setup and maintenance of production equipment on a film or television set.
Simple“The key grip made sure the camera track was perfectly level for the long shot.”
In context“After years working as a grip on independent features, he finally joined the union to work on major studio productions.”
Synonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
n.a large amount of something or a long period of time.
n.a significant quantity or duration; used colloquially in specific regional dialects.
Simple“I haven't seen him in a grip, so I barely recognised him with the beard.”
In context“She spent a grip of money on those designer shoes, but she claims they were worth every cent.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is highly regional to the West Coast of the United States; learners should avoid it in formal or international contexts.
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to hold something very tightly.
v.to seize or maintain a firm manual hold upon an object.
Simple“The child gripped his teddy bear as he waited for the doctor.”
In context“The sailor gripped the railing as the ship pitched violently in the heavy swells.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to hold someone's attention completely because something is very exciting.
v.to compel the total attention or interest of an audience or individual.
Simple“The mystery novel was so exciting that it gripped me from the first page.”
In context“The witness's testimony gripped the courtroom, leaving the jurors visibly moved by the account of the events.”
SynonymsfascinateenthrallrivetAntonyms - 08 C1 Advanced
v.when a strong feeling or a difficult situation has a powerful effect on you.
v.of an emotion or condition: to dominate or affect an individual or group intensely.
Simple“A sudden fear gripped him as he realised he was lost in the woods.”
In context“Panic gripped the city's residents as news of the impending strike spread through the morning broadcasts.”
“Russia maintained an iron grip on Crimea since seizing it from Ukraine in 2014.”
“Has security increased, or not?" Despite opinion polls registering a fall in Putin's domestic approval ratings, Russia's president – Muratov believes - retains a tight grip on power.”
Verb from Middle English grippen, from Old English grippan, from a Proto-Germanic gripjaną (compare Old High German gripfen); compare the related Old English grīpan, whence English gripe. See also grope, and the related Proto-Germanic grīpaną. Noun from Middle English grippe, gripe, an amalgam of Old English gripe (“grasp, hold”) (cognate with German Griff) and Old English gripa (“handful”) (cognate with Swedish grepp).
From Middle English grip, grippe, gryppe (“a ditch, drain”), from Old English grēp (“a furrow, burrow”) and grēpe (“a furrow, ditch, drain”), from Proto-Germanic *grōpiz (“a furrow, groove”). Cognate with Middle Dutch grippe, gruppe (“ditch, drain”), greppe, German Low German Gruppe (“ditch, drain”). Related also to Old English grōp (“a ditch, drain”). More at groop.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.