- 1[countable, usually singular] grip (on somebody/something) an act of holding somebody/something tightly; a particular way of doing this synonym grasp Keep a tight grip on the rope. to loosen/release/relax your grip She tried to get a grip on the icy rock. The climber slipped and lost her grip. She struggled from his grip. Try adjusting your grip on the racket. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivefirm, good, secure, … verb + griphave, get, take, … grip + verbtighten, loosen, relax, … prepositionin a/somebody’s grip, grip on phrasesbreak somebody’s grip See full entry See related entries: Tennis control/power
- 2[singular] grip (on somebody/something) control or power over somebody/something The home team took a firm grip on the game. We need to tighten the grip we have on the market. The Prime Minister needs to keep a tight grip on his party. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivefirm, iron, powerful, … verb + griphave, get, take, … prepositionin something’s grip, grip on phrasescome to grips with something, get to grips with something See full entry understanding
- 3[singular] grip (on something) an understanding of something synonym grasp I couldn't get a grip on what was going on. You need to keep a good grip on reality in this job. moving without slipping
- 4[uncountable] the ability of something to move over a surface without slipping These tyres give the bus better grip in slippery conditions. This type of sole gives good grip on snow and ice. part of object
- 5[countable] a part of something that has a special surface so that it can be held without the hands slipping the grip on a golf club for hair
- 6[countable] (British English) = hairgrip job in the movies
- 7 [countable] a person who prepares and moves the cameras, and sometimes the lighting equipment, when a film/movie is being made See related entries: Film people bag
- 8 [countable] (old-fashioned) a large soft bag, used when travelling Word OriginOld English grippa (verb), gripe ‘grasp, clutch’ (noun), gripa ‘handful, sheath’; related to gripe.Extra examples He finally broke her grip and escaped. He still had a firm grip on my arm. Her upper arms were seized in an iron grip. His grip slackened and she tore herself away. Hold the microphone in a firm grip. Keep a secure grip on the rope at all times. Robert tightened his grip on her shoulder. She felt his grip tighten painfully on her wrist. She has a tenuous grip on reality. She relaxed her grip on the door frame. She slipped and lost her grip of the rope. She was powerless in his iron grip. Sometimes I feel I’m losing my grip Taking a tight grip on the hook, he began to pull it closer. The Church does not have a strong grip on the population. The government does not seem to have a very firm grip on the economy. They managed to strengthen their grip on the southern part of the country. We need to keep a tight grip on costs. Winter still held them in its iron grip.Idioms
holding tightly
to begin to understand and deal with something difficult I'm slowly getting to grips with the language. They have so far failed to come to grips with the ecological problems.
to improve your behaviour or control your emotions after being afraid, upset or angry I have to take a grip on myself, he told himself firmly. (informal) Get a grip! (= make an effort to control your emotions)
experiencing something unpleasant that cannot be stopped a country in the grip of recession
to become unable to understand or control a situation Sometimes I feel I'm losing my grip.
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