grip (redirected from get to grips)

*a grip on something 

1. and *a hold on something Lit. a good grasp on something. (*Typically: get ~ have ~ give someone ~.) Try to get a grip on the ropes and pull yourself up. You should get a hold on the knob and turn it firmly.

2. Fig. a thorough knowledge of some topic. (*Typically: get ~ have ~ give someone ~.) I need to have a grip on the basics of accounting. Try to get a hold on all the facts first.

*a grip on oneself

Fig. control of one's emotions. (*Typically: get ~ have ~.) Calm down, man! Get a grip on yourself! I encouraged him to get a grip on himself.

See also: oneself

come to grips with someone or something

Fig. to begin to deal with someone or something difficult or challenging in a sensible way. We must all come to grips with this tragedy. I cannot come to grips with Ed and his problems.

See also: come

grab someone's attention and get someone's attention; grip someone's attention

Fig. to draw or attract someone's attention. The bright colors on the poster are there to grab your attention. The scary movie gripped my attention.

See also: attention, grab

keep a firm grip on someone or something and keep a tight grip on someone or something 

1. Lit. to hold on to someone or something tightly. As they approached the edge, Sally kept a firm grip on little Timmy. She kept a tight grip on him. Keep a firm grip on my hand as we cross the street.

2. Fig. to keep someone or something under firm control. The manager keeps a firm grip on all the employees. I try to keep a firm grip on all the accounts.

See also: firm, keep

lose one's hold on someone or something and lose one's grip on someone or something 

1. Lit. to fail to keep one's handhold on someone or something. I lost my hold on the child, and she nearly slipped away. She lost her grip on the bag of jewels and it fell overboard.

2. and lose one's hold over someone or something Fig. to give up control over someone or something. The manager lost her hold on her employees and was fired. Fred is losing his grip on his workers. He is losing his hold over his empire.

See also: hold, lose

take a firm grip on someone or something 

1. Lit. to grasp someone or something tightly. The police officer took a firm grip on Fred and led him to the squad car. Mary took a firm grip on the handle and pulled hard.

2. Fig. to gain control of someone or something. You will have to take a firm grip on Andrew. He has a mind of his own. Someone needs to take a firm grip on this department and get it organized.

See also: firm, take

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be in the grip of something

to be experiencing something unpleasant that you have no control over The country is currently in the grip of the worst recession for twenty years.

come/get to grips with something

to make an effort to understand and deal with a problem or situation It's further proof of the government's failure to get to grips with two of the most important social issues of our time.

See also: come

get a grip (on yourself)

to make an effort to control your emotions and behave more calmly Come on, get a grip, we've got an important meeting in five minutes. I just think he ought to get a grip on himself - he's behaving like a child.

See also: get

have a grip on something

to have control over something Certainly in the first half England didn't seem to have a grip on the game.

See lose grip

See also: have

lose your grip

to lose your ability to control or deal with a situation He was losing his grip at work and knew it was time to retire. (often + on ) It suggests that the ruling party is losing its grip on the middle classes in some of the bigger cities.

See also: lose

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come to grips with something

to make an effort to understand and deal with a problem or situation The whole community is struggling to come to grips with these kids' deaths.

Related vocabulary: come to terms with something

See also: come

get a grip (on something)

to understand how to deal with something The program will have helpful tips on how to get a grip on your finances. Something is obviously not right in our organization, and we must get a grip on the problem.

See also: get

get a grip (on yourself) (spoken)

to control your emotions I know it's hard, but get a grip on yourself and tell me what you saw. Oh, get a grip, Tess! It's really not as bad as you think.

See also: get

in the grip of something

controlled by something The country was in the grip of a continuing and deep depression. She sways and stomps and even cries when she's in the grip of her music-making.

lose your/its grip

to be unable to control something Changes in your body can make you feel like you're losing your grip. For many years now the old political parties have been losing their grip on the South. Related vocabulary: lose it

See also: lose