gain (redirected from Gainable)

gain ground

if a political party or a belief gains ground, it becomes more popular or accepted. The Republicans are gaining ground in the southern states. (often in continuous tenses)

See also: ground

gain/get the upper hand

have the upper hand - if someone has the upper hand, they have a position of power and control over someone else, and if an emotion has the upper hand, it controls what you do. Government troops are gradually gaining the upper hand over the rebel forces. (often + over) I shouldn't have read the letter, but curiosity got the upper hand.

See also: hand, upper

it's swings and roundabouts (British & Australian, 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.

See also: it's, swing

Nothing 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.

See also: nothing

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gain ground

to become more successful. The United States is gaining ground as a cotton producer.

lose ground

See also: ground

gain ground on someone/something

to get a bigger share compared to others. The company's software business is gaining ground on its biggest competitor.

lose ground to someone/something

Etymology: based on the military meaning of gain ground (= to advance and get control of an area from an enemy)

See also: ground