come/get to grips with somebody/something
come to grips with (someone or something)
To begin to or make an effort to understand, accept, and deal with a difficult or problematic person, thing, or situation. I should have the report ready for you by this afternoon, I just need to come to grips with this new software update first. I've tried, but I just can't come to grips with Amy, she's totally out of control!
get to grips with (someone or something)
To begin or make an effort to understand, accept, and deal with a difficult or problematic person, thing, or situation. I should have the report ready for you by this afternoon, I just need to get to grips with this new software update first. I've tried, but I just can't get to grips with Amy, she's totally out of control!
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.
come to grips with
Confront squarely, deal decisively with, as in Her stories help the children come to grips with upsetting events. This term, sometimes put as get to grips with, employs grip in the sense of a "tight hold." [Mid-1900s]
get to grips with something
orcome to grips with something
COMMON If you get to grips with or come to grips with a problem or task, you start to deal with it effectively, usually by making an effort to understand it. The present government has completely failed to get to grips with our economic problems. I must come to grips with this new system.
come (or get) to grips with
1 engage in physical combat with. 2 begin to deal with or understand.come/get to ˈgrips with somebody/something
begin to understand or to deal properly with a person, problem, subject, etc: The government has yet to get to grips with the problem of crime. ♢ I’m trying to come to grips with Polish grammar.come to grips with
To confront squarely and attempt to deal decisively with: "He had to come to grips with the proposition" (Louis Auchincloss).