gain (redirected from gains on)

gain something by doing something

to achieve some benefit by doing something. What did he gain by dropping out of school? I will gain some degree of security by investing in U.S. Treasury bonds.

See also: doing

gain something from something

to earn or achieve something from something. I hope you gain something worthwhile from all this. I know I will gain some valuable experience from this job.

gain dominion over someone or something

to achieve total authority over someone or something. The dictator sought to gain dominion over the entire country. Harry was not happy until he had gained dominion over the people who worked for him.

gain from something

to benefit from something. I hope you gain from this experience. What do you think I will gain from this?

gain ground

to make progress; to advance; to become more important or popular. Our new product is gaining ground against that of our competitor. Since the government announced its new policies, the opposition has been gaining ground.

See also: ground

gain in something

to advance in a particular quality. Todd grew in stature and gained in wisdom. Mary gained in experience as the weeks went on.

gain on someone or something

to begin to catch up or move ahead of someone or something. We were gaining on them when they suddenly sped up. Our horse was gaining on the horse in front.

ill-gotten gains

money or other possessions acquired in a dishonest or illegal fashion. Bill cheated at cards and is now living on his ill-gotten gains. Mary is enjoying her ill-gotten gains. She deceived an old lady into leaving her $5,000 in her will.

No pain, no gain.

Fig. If you want to improve, you must work so hard that it hurts. (Associated with sports and physical exercise.) Player: I can't do any more push-ups. My muscles hurt. Coach: No pain, no gain. Come on, everybody! Run one more lap! No pain, no gain!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

If you do not take risks, you will never accomplish anything. Bill: Should I ask my boss for a promotion? Jane: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I think I'll audition for a part in that play. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

See also: nothing

One man's loss is another man's gain.

Prov. When one person loses something, another person gets it. (You can substitute appropriate names or pronouns for the phrases one man's and another man's, as in the second example.) Mike found a five-dollar bill on the sidewalk. "One man's loss is another man's gain," he thought to himself, as he took the money. Jane: Andy just got fired. Jill: I know. And Andy's loss is my gain; I'm getting promoted to his job!

See also: another, loss, one

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gain ground

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

See have the upper hand

See also: ground

it's swings and roundabouts  (British & Australian) also what you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts (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: and, roundabout, 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.

Opposite of: lose ground

See also: ground

gain ground on somebody/something

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

Opposite of: lose ground to somebody/something

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

See also: ground