grit
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.very small pieces of stone, sand, or dirt.
n.small, loose particles of stone or sand; often used to describe abrasive material on roads or surfaces.
Simple“The wind blew grit into my eyes while I was walking on the beach.”
In context“Winter maintenance crews spread grit across the icy motorway to improve traction for morning commuters.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the strength of character that helps you continue even when things are very difficult.
n.firmness of character; indomitable spirit or resilience in the face of hardship.
Simple“It takes a lot of grit to finish a marathon when your legs are hurting.”
In context“Psychologists often argue that grit is a better predictor of long-term success than innate intelligence or talent alone.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a number that tells you how rough or smooth sandpaper is.
n.a measure of the size of abrasive grains on a surface, where lower numbers indicate coarser material.
Simple“Use a heavy grit sandpaper to remove the old paint from the door.”
In context“The carpenter transitioned from a sixty-grit abrasive to a much finer grain to ensure a perfectly smooth finish before staining the wood.”
Synonymscoarsenessgrain - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a dish made from crushed corn, usually eaten for breakfast in the Southern US.
n.a dish of coarsely ground corn or hominy boiled in water or milk, common in the Southern United States.
Simple“We had a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, and cheesy grits.”
In context“While traveling through Georgia, they enjoyed a traditional meal of shrimp and grits at a local diner.”
UsageUsually used in the plural form 'grits'.
Synonymshominyporridge - 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to press your top and bottom teeth together tightly, usually because you are angry or in pain.
v.to clench or grind the teeth together, typically as a physical manifestation of determination, anger, or pain.
Simple“He had to grit his teeth and ignore the pain in his ankle to finish the race.”
In context“She gritted her teeth in frustration as the software crashed for the third time that afternoon.”
UsageCommonly used in the idiom 'grit one's teeth'.
Synonymsclenchgnash - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to spread sand or small stones on a road to make it less slippery.
v.to spread grit or salt on an icy road or path to improve friction and safety.
Simple“The council sent trucks to grit the main roads before the snowstorm started.”
In context“Local authorities advised residents that secondary lanes would not be gritted until the primary transit routes were cleared.”
After the Clear Grits, 19th-century reformers so named because they wanted members who were "all sand and no dirt, clear grit all the way through".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.