grievousadj.

Brit.

/ˈɡriːvəs/, U.S.

/ˈɡrivəs/

Forms: Middle English–1500s grevous, (Middle English grevos, greves, Middle English grevows, grevose, ? grevours, ? grevest, 1500s grevus), Middle English grefeous, Middle English greivos, grewo(u)s, 1500s greveous, 1500s–1600s greevous, 1600s (1800s dialect) gr(i)vious, 1500s– grievous. Also Middle English grawous, gravewis.

Etymology: < Old French grevos, -(o)us, -eus, < grever to grieve v. With the forms grawous, gravewis, compare Old French graveus, (rare), medieval Latin gravōsus, Italian gravoso, Spanish gravoso.

†1.

a. Pressing heavily upon a person (or persons), burdensome, oppressive. In later use only of public burdens or grievances. Obsolete.Such collocations as grievous burden survive in occasional use, but the adjective is apprehended in sense 5.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > [adjective] > harassing

griefa1300

grievous13..

travailinga1450

importunatea1500

unportunatea1533

importunable1566

infestive1570

infestuous1593

plaguey1595

infestious1597

importunous1598

obsidious1615

vexatious?1626

pestifying1716

harassing1833

obsidional1879

infesting1881

obseding1885

13.. Barlam & Jos. 167 Ȝif þer any þing be þat greuous is to þe, & we togedir ben, þe lyȝter it schal be.

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 1 Kings xii. 4 The moost greuous ȝok that he hath putte on to vs.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xxiii. 23 Tho thingis that ben greuouser..of the lawe.

1428 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 10 Þe charge is to me full hevy and grevous.

1531 W. Tyndale Expos. 1 John (1537) 74 Hys commaundementes are not greueous.

1550 H. Latimer Serm. Stamford sig. A.ii^v Chryste came to bryng vs oute of..a greater burthen, and a more greuouser burthen, the burthen of synne.

1593 T. Bilson Perpetual Govt. Christes Church 322 Your discipline is farre greeuouser to the faithfull.

1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings xii. 4 Thy father made our yoke grieuous: now therefore, make thou the grieuous seruice of thy father..lighter.

1663 A. Marvell Let. 19 May in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 36 A Committee is also inspecting all illegall Patents & grievous to the Subject.

1666 A. Marvell Corr. II. lii. 188 The committee have voted the Canary Company grievous, illegal, and a monopoly.

1765 T. Hutchinson Hist. Colony Massachusets-Bay, 1628–91 (ed. 2) iii. 35 Mr. Dudley's short administration was not very grievous.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 90 The High Commission was generally regarded as the most grievous of the many grievances under which the nation laboured.]

†b. Of a task: Heavy, arduous, difficult. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > [adjective] > difficult to do or accomplish

higheOE

grievousc1386

steep1598

arduous1718

leg-breaking1835

knobby1862

nut-cracking1982

c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale ⁋529 And in as muche as thilke love is the moore greuous to perfourne, in so muche is the more gretter the merite.

?1449 W. Tailboys in Paston Lett. & Papers (2005) III. 74 It will be right grevewis to him to heile of his hurt, he is so sore streken.

1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 53^v It is a greuos thing to conquere them [sc. Royaumes], yet is it a more greuours & more chargeable thing to kepe them wel.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 636 Fra-thine vp wes grevousar [1489 Adv. grewouser] To clym vp.

†c. Of penalties, punishment, indignation: Falling heavily upon one; heavy, severe. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > severity > [adjective] > specifically of punishment or persecution

sharpa1340

grievous1393

penalc1443

severe1562

1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xvii. 77 So for hus glotonye and grete synne he haþ a greuous penaunce.

1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. (1898) 160 God ther-of toke greivos vengeaunce.

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. xviii. 92 Let this be the greuousest punishment emong you.

1564 N. Haward tr. Eutropius Briefe Chron. vii. sig. M.viii He woulde not lightlye punyshe anye..with anye grevouser penaltye then by banishment only.

1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. iv. 12 Signifying..his own grievous indignation against me.

1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 146 War is a thing that punishes men, with the greatest, and grievousest punishments that can bee.

†d. Of persons: Causing trouble or annoyance to others; oppressive. Of an assailant: Pressing hard on. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Cor. xii. 14 I schal not be greuous [L. gravis] to ȝou.

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur i. xiv The Duke Eustace..and Kynge Claryaunce..were alweye greuous on Vlfyus.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 124/2 And as she that was besy and greuous to hym he said to her goo unto the holy man that is named Effraym.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. vii. B Is it not ynough for you, that ye be greuous vnto men, but ye must greue my God also?

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. x. 62 Ye shall be grieuouse to no man with beggyng.

1587 J. Hooker tr. Giraldus Cambrensis Vaticinall Hist. Conquest Ireland i. vi. 8/1 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II To his owne people he was rough and greeuous, and hatefull vnto strangers.

1600 J. Jane in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (new ed.) III. 847 I do..intreat you all, first to forgiue me in whatsoeuer I haue bin grieuous vnto you.

e. Of a complaint: Pressing heavily on the person complained of. (In later use merely intensive or associated with sense 5 or 6.)

ΚΠ

1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Kiiij Mouinge greuous complayntes agaynste them before the King of Spaine.

1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. v. 447 The complaints I heare of thee are greeuous .

a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 370 They raised a grievous outcry for the want of a National Synod to regulate our worship and government.

1870 Fortn. Rev. July 175 There is the same grievous complaint against the time and its men and its spirit.

a. Of things, events, accidents, etc.: Bringing serious trouble or discomfort; having injurious effects; †causing hurt or pain. (Now only with mixture of sense 5 —‘grievous to think of’—qualifying intensively a noun denoting something painful or injurious.)

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > [adjective]

litherc893

scathefulc900

balefulOE

orneOE

teenfulOE

evilc1175

venomousc1290

scathela1300

prejudiciala1325

fell?c1335

harmfula1340

grievous1340

ill1340

wicked1340

noisomea1382

venomed1382

noyfulc1384

damageousc1386

mischievousc1390

unwholesomea1400

undisposingc1400

damnablec1420

prejudiciable1429

contagiousc1440

damagefulc1449

pestiferous1458

damageable1474

pestilent?a1475

nuisable1483

nocible1490

nuisible1490

nuisant1494

noxiousa1500

nocent?c1500

pestilential1531

tortious1532

pestilentious1533

nocive1538

offensivea1548

vitiating1547

dangerous1548

offending1552

dispendious1557

injurious1559

offensible1575

offensant1578

baneful1579

incommodious1579

prejudicious1579

prejudical1595

inimicous1598

damnifiable1604

taking1608

obnoxious1612

nocivousc1616

mischieving1621

nocuous1627

nocumentous1644

disserviceable1645

inimical1645

detrimentous1648

injuring1651

detrimental1656

inimicitial1656

nocumental1657

incommodous1677

fatal1681

inimic1696

nociferous1706

damnific1727

inimicable1805

violational1821

insalutary1836

detrimentary1841

wronging1845

unsalvatory1850

damaging1856

damnous1870

wack1986

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [adjective] > harmful or injurious > very

balefulOE

wanlichc1275

grievous1340

malignc1350

maliciousa1398

venom1538

virulent1563

malignant1564

blasting1591

fatal1681

blighting1796

terminal1952

1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 1565 And þa, þat with swylk gyses God greves, Sall fall in many grevos myscheves.

c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Cambr.) i. pr. iv. 8 By-twixen wikked folkes and me han ben greuos descordes.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Heb. xii. B No maner chatisynge for the present tyme semeth to be ioyous, but greuous [also 1611 and 1881].

1549 J. Cheke Hurt of Sedicion sig. E6 Can we not looke for a greuouser and perilouser daunger then the plage is?

1604 T. Wright Passions of Minde (new ed.) v. 253 The greater perill, or grievouser evill incurred by the gift, encrease the goodnesse and valuation of the gift.

1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate 4 We see daily many greeuous fractures healed without it [sc. the Trapan].

1751 J. Jortin Serm. (1771) I. iii. 43 We are there told that grievous inconveniences would follow such rigorous methods.

1864 D. G. Mitchell Seven Stories 281 Emile was laboring under a grievous delusion.

1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. i. 22 Wide-ruling Agamemnon may perceive How grievous was his folly.

†b. Hurtful or injurious to something. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > [adjective] > to thing or person

grievous1398

injuriousa1513

nought1532

venomousa1616

sinister1726

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [adjective] > harmful or injurious > to or for some thing or person

grievous1398

nought1532

naughty1573

poisonousa1616

venomousa1616

1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) vi. v. 193 Chyldren desire thynges that is to theym contrary and greuous.

c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 123 For colde ys most greuest to bonys & to pannycles þat beþ woundyde.

†c. Offensive to the senses; having a bad taste, smell, etc. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > unsavouriness > [adjective]

uglyc1540

grievous1578

naughty1578

unrelishable1603

unrelishing1611

unsapory1638

insapory1665

1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. xxx. 43 It is also of a very grievous savour.

1752 J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) App. 277 The Sheriff is required to visit and inspect such Room, and to disallow or prohibit the Use of the same, in case it shall appear to be grievous or unhealthy.

†d. loosely. Excessively great or strong. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > [adjective] > excessive or too great in amount or degree > excessive in degree

unmeasurablea1398

dismeasurec1400

dismeasurable1477

dismeasured1483

over1494

endlya1513

intolerable1544

wide1574

overloading1576

unconscionable1576

meanless1587

powerable1588

hyperbolical1589

extravagant1598

grievous1632

flagrant1634

exorbitant1648

overbearinga1708

unbalanced1712

well-favoured1746

steep1856

thick1884

ripe1918

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iv. 153 And the forequarters and head they throw into a grievous fire.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. v. 193 A great Torrent..that maketh a greivous noyse night and day.

a. Of a disease, wound, or pain: Causing great suffering or danger; acute, severe. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > severity > [adjective]

heavyc825

grimc900

strongeOE

hardeOE

drearyOE

eileOE

sweerOE

deara1000

bitterOE

tartc1000

smartOE

unridec1175

sharp?c1225

straitc1275

grievousc1290

fellc1330

shrewda1387

snella1400

unsterna1400

vilea1400

importunea1425

ungainc1425

thrallc1430

peisant1483

sore?a1513

weighty1540

heinous?1541

urgent?1542

asperous?1567

dure1567

spiny1586

searching1590

hoara1600

vengible1601

flinty1613

tugging1642

atrocious1733

uncannya1774

severe1774

stern1830

punishing1833

hefty1867

solid1916

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > characteristics > [adjective] > violent or severe

grimc900

strongeOE

grievousc1290

burning1393

acutea1398

maliciousa1398

peracutea1398

sorea1400

wicked14..

malign?a1425

vehement?a1425

malignousc1475

angrya1500

cacoethe?1541

eager?1543

virulent1563

malignant1568

raging1590

roaring1590

furious1597

grassant1601

hearty1601

sharp1607

main1627

generous1632

perperacute1647

serious1655

ferine1666

bad1705

severe1725

unfavourable1782

grave1888

the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > types of pain > [adjective] > relating to agony or torment > causing agony or torment

sharpc1000

grievousc1290

smartc1300

fellc1330

unsufferablea1340

keena1375

poignantc1390

rending?c1400

furiousc1405

stoutc1425

unbearablec1449

agonizing1570

tormenting1575

cruciable1578

raging1590

tormentuous1597

pungent1598

racking1598

acute1615

wrenching1618

excruciating1664

grinding1681

excruciate1773

discruciating1788

unendurable1801

of bare sufferance1823

perialgic1893

c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 100/5 On Dame Eutice cam a siknesse: swiþe greuous and long. Four ȝer he hadde gret pine.

1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 2910 And þat syght es a payn ful grevous; For þe devels er swa foul and ydous.

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 499 He hadde a greuous wounde.

1471 G. Ripley Compound of Alchymy vi. xv, in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chem. Britannicum (1652) 164 Wyth grevose throwys.

c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 293 Thes grawous peynes make me ner mad!

1552 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16279) Letany sig. .vii^v This plague and greuous sickenesse.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 501 A World who would not purchase with a bruise, Or much more grievous pain?

1683 W. Salmon Doron Medicum i. 2984 The Leprosy is a more grievious Disease.

1865 R. W. Dale Jewish Temple v. 58 The sufferings of Christ were grievous.

1879 J. M. Duncan Clin. Lect. Dis. Women ix. 95 This disease..is not considered grievous enough to secure a bed in the hospital.

b. grievous bodily harm, a legal term denoting a serious injury (see quot. 1959). Also transferred.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > [noun] > wound > serious or mortal wound

death's woundc1300

death woundc1330

grievous bodily harm1861

homer1942

society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > unlawful violence

mayhem1447

forcea1481

mutilation1517

actual bodily harm1837

grievous bodily harm1861

ABH1975

1861 Act 24 & 25 Victoria c. 100 §20 Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously wound or inflict any grievous bodily Harm upon any other Person, either with or without any Weapon or Instrument, shall be guilty of a Misdemeanour.

1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights iii. 166 Bottles was doing a lagging G.B.H.! (Grievious Bodily Harm).

1959 Earl Jowitt & C. Walsh Dict. Eng. Law I. 258/2 Bodily harm, any injury which is merely technical or trivial, as distinguished from the more serious injury termed ‘actual bodily harm’, or the still more serious injury termed ‘grievous bodily harm’.

1968 Listener 11 July 62/2 The spectator whose heart lifts at the sight of Clark Graebner committing grievous bodily harm on a tennis ball is a fortunate man indeed.

4. Of a fault, crime, sin, etc.: Involving a grave degree of guilt, deserving heavy penalties. In later use chiefly with stronger sense: Atrocious, flagrant, heinous. Now only archaic.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > heinousness > [adjective]

awlyc1200

grievousa1300

grilla1300

uglya1300

strongc1300

outrageousa1325

heinousc1374

excessive1393

curseda1400

fella1400

misshapenc1400

rankc1400

monstruousc1425

enorm1481

prodigiousc1487

villainous1489

nefand1490

sceleratea1513

monstrous1531

funestal1538

enormious1545

facinorous1548

flagitious1550

dire1567

bonable1575

felonious1575

bomination1589

unvenial?1589

heathenish1592

enormous1593

villainous1598

nameless1611

pitchy1612

funest1636

funestous1641

scarleta1643

nefandous1649

aversable1663

atrocious1669

frightful1700

flagrant1706

atrocea1734

diabolical1750

unspeakable1831

society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > extremely wicked > specifically of actions or qualities

strong?c1225

grievousa1300

flagitious1550

grossful1613

scarleta1643

atrocious1669

atrocea1734

purple1905

a1300 Cursor Mundi 26451 A sin of vnkindnes..þat als greues es [Fairf. þat iiij sa mikil greuouse is] Als all his oþer sinnes ware.

c1380 Eng. Wycliffite Serm. in Sel. Wks. II. 240 Of al synnes þat now ben þis is moost perelouse and grevous.

1395 Remonstr. against Rom. Corrupt. (1851) 14 Auarice and symonie ben greuosere synnis in him thanne is bodili fornicacioun.

1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. ee.vii^v Haue not we commytted many more greuouser offences than these be?

1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. F7^v We see greeuous crimes, and flagicious facts..daily committed.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iii. ii. 80 The Noble Brutus, Hath told you Cæsar was Ambitious: If it were so, it was a greeuous Fault, And greeuously hath Cæsar answer'd it.

a1656 J. Hales Golden Remains (1659) i. 81 Those are the more heavy and grievouser sins of our lives.

1683 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) I. 87 A Heynous and Grevious Crime.

1860 G. A. Sala Lady Chesterfield's Lett. Pref. 4 This little book.. has from first to last one grievous artistic fault.

5. Causing mental pain or distress. Now with narrowed sense: Exciting grief or intense sorrow.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > [adjective] > causing sorrow or grief

sorelyc888

sorrowfulOE

sorryOE

yomerlyOE

rueful?c1225

grievous1297

heavyc1374

sada1375

deefulc1380

grievable1390

grieffula1400

grievingc1450

trist?c1450

tristfula1492

dolorousa1500

doly?1553

mournful?1570

griefsome1635

tristifical1656

melancholy1710

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 4140 At tyme of midniȝt of þe niȝt, him mette a greuous cas. Him þoȝte he sey a grislich bere [etc.].

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xxxix. 314 I..was assoyled of alle that lay in my Conscience, of many a dyverse grevous poynt.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Esdras v. 21 After seuen dayes it happened, that y^e thoughtes of my hert were very greuous vnto me agayne.

1548 Order of Communion sig. B.iv The remembraunce of them is greuouse vnto vs.

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. i. 142 This newes is bad indeede..Tis very grieuous to be thought vpon.

1692 S. Pepys Let. 9 Jan., Diary (1879) VI. 172 I would have come at you the other night at St. Martin's on that grievous occasion, but could not.

1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 472. ⁋8 The Pleasures and Advantages of Sight being so great, the Loss must be very grievous.

1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. v. 98 It was so very grievous to her to think that [etc.].

1833 H. Martineau Brooke & Brooke Farm (ed. 3) vii. 87 It was grievous to see in a short time how poorly they lived.

6. Full of grief; very sad or sorrowful. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > [adjective]

sorelyc888

gramec893

sorrowfuleOE

unblithec897

sorryeOE

carefulOE

charyOE

sickOE

yomerOE

sorry-moodOE

sweerc1000

yomerlyOE

sorrilyOE

woea1200

balec1220

sorry?c1225

sorec1275

gremefula1300

sada1300

ruthlyc1300

thoughtfulc1300

woebegonea1325

heavyc1330

grievousc1374

woefula1375

sorrowya1382

dereful?a1400

sorousa1400

sytefula1400

teenfula1400

wrotha1400

balefulc1400

tristy?c1400

tristc1420

dolefulc1430

wapped in woec1440

yhevidc1440

dolenta1450

condolentc1460

discomforted1477

tristfula1492

sorrow1496

dram?a1513

dolorous1513

earnful?1527

troublous1535

amort1546

mournfula1558

passioned1560

sadded1566

tristive1578

distressed1586

passionate1586

sorrowed1596

distressful1601

passionful1605

sighful1606

contristed1625

anguishinga1642

sadful1658

saddened1665

tristitious1694

sick as a parrot1705

pangful1727

woesome1778

grieving1807

ruesome1833

yearned1838

doleant1861

mournsome1869

thoughted1869

tragical1887

grief-stricken1905

c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Cambr.) i. pr. i. 3 And she, byholdynge my cheere, þat was..heuy and greuos of wepynge, compley[n]de..þat I shal seyen the perturbacyon of my thowht.

1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 2nd Pt. sig. H The heire of mighty Baiazeth..Reuiues the spirits of all true Turkish heartes, In grieuous memorie of his fathers shame.

1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 36 And when he sees you come with a knife..to kill him, he vapours out the grievousest sighes, that ever you heard any creature make.

1828 N. Hawthorne Fanshawe ix. 124 Women..wearing a deep-grievous expression of countenance.

1893 Daily News 9 Jan. 5/6 All the while the grievous mother stands by..and varies the dreary tale of pecuniary difficulty by telling [etc.].

7. quasi-adv.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly > specifically of something bad

sorea1300

grievously1340

terrible1490

beastly?1518

shrewdlyc1533

arrantly?1548

murrainly?1548

abominablea1550

pestilence1567

pestilently1567

cursedly1570

pestiferously1570

murrain1575

plaguey1584

plaguilya1586

grievous1598

scandalously1602

horridly1603

terribly1604

monstrously1611

hellish1614

dreadfullya1616

horrid1615

pestilenta1616

infernally1638

preposterously1661

woeful1684

confoundedly1694

confounded1709

glaringly1709

cursed1719

flagrantly1756

weary1790

disgustingly1804

filthy1827

blamed1833

peskily1833

pesky1833

blame1843

blasted1854

wickedly1858

blatantly1878

shamelessly1885

disgracefully1893

ruddy1913

bastarda1935

pissing1951

sodding1954

pissingly1971

1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. i. 16 He cannot come my lord, he is grieuous sicke.

Derivatives

ˈgrievoushead n. [-head suffix] = grievousness n.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > cause of mental pain or suffering > [noun] > quality

grievousheada1400

painfulnessc1400

importunityc1475

grievousness1509

grievesomeness1583

sting1860

distressfulness1890

plangency1900

a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS x. 47 Meur wiþ-outen greuoushed And Murie wiþ-outen wyldehed.

1496 (c1410) Dives & Pauper (de Worde) vi. xxiii. 271/2 Only god knoweth the greuoushede of dedely synne.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	grievous
释义	grievousadj. Brit. /ˈɡriːvəs/, U.S. /ˈɡrivəs/ Forms: Middle English–1500s grevous, (Middle English grevos, greves, Middle English grevows, grevose, ? grevours, ? grevest, 1500s grevus), Middle English grefeous, Middle English greivos, grewo(u)s, 1500s greveous, 1500s–1600s greevous, 1600s (1800s dialect) gr(i)vious, 1500s– grievous. Also Middle English grawous, gravewis. Etymology: < Old French grevos, -(o)us, -eus, < grever to grieve v. With the forms grawous, gravewis, compare Old French graveus, (rare), medieval Latin gravōsus, Italian gravoso, Spanish gravoso. †1. a. Pressing heavily upon a person (or persons), burdensome, oppressive. In later use only of public burdens or grievances. Obsolete.Such collocations as grievous burden survive in occasional use, but the adjective is apprehended in sense 5. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > [adjective] > harassing griefa1300 grievous13.. travailinga1450 importunatea1500 unportunatea1533 importunable1566 infestive1570 infestuous1593 plaguey1595 infestious1597 importunous1598 obsidious1615 vexatious?1626 pestifying1716 harassing1833 obsidional1879 infesting1881 obseding1885 13.. Barlam & Jos. 167 Ȝif þer any þing be þat greuous is to þe, & we togedir ben, þe lyȝter it schal be. 1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 1 Kings xii. 4 The moost greuous ȝok that he hath putte on to vs. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xxiii. 23 Tho thingis that ben greuouser..of the lawe. 1428 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 10 Þe charge is to me full hevy and grevous. 1531 W. Tyndale Expos. 1 John (1537) 74 Hys commaundementes are not greueous. 1550 H. Latimer Serm. Stamford sig. A.ii^v Chryste came to bryng vs oute of..a greater burthen, and a more greuouser burthen, the burthen of synne. 1593 T. Bilson Perpetual Govt. Christes Church 322 Your discipline is farre greeuouser to the faithfull. 1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings xii. 4 Thy father made our yoke grieuous: now therefore, make thou the grieuous seruice of thy father..lighter. View more context for this quotation 1663 A. Marvell Let. 19 May in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 36 A Committee is also inspecting all illegall Patents & grievous to the Subject. 1666 A. Marvell Corr. II. lii. 188 The committee have voted the Canary Company grievous, illegal, and a monopoly. 1765 T. Hutchinson Hist. Colony Massachusets-Bay, 1628–91 (ed. 2) iii. 35 Mr. Dudley's short administration was not very grievous. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 90 The High Commission was generally regarded as the most grievous of the many grievances under which the nation laboured.] †b. Of a task: Heavy, arduous, difficult. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > [adjective] > difficult to do or accomplish higheOE grievousc1386 steep1598 arduous1718 leg-breaking1835 knobby1862 nut-cracking1982 c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale ⁋529 And in as muche as thilke love is the moore greuous to perfourne, in so muche is the more gretter the merite. ?1449 W. Tailboys in Paston Lett. & Papers (2005) III. 74 It will be right grevewis to him to heile of his hurt, he is so sore streken. 1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 53^v It is a greuos thing to conquere them [sc. Royaumes], yet is it a more greuours & more chargeable thing to kepe them wel. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 636 Fra-thine vp wes grevousar [1489 Adv. grewouser] To clym vp. †c. Of penalties, punishment, indignation: Falling heavily upon one; heavy, severe. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > severity > [adjective] > specifically of punishment or persecution sharpa1340 grievous1393 penalc1443 severe1562 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xvii. 77 So for hus glotonye and grete synne he haþ a greuous penaunce. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. (1898) 160 God ther-of toke greivos vengeaunce. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. xviii. 92 Let this be the greuousest punishment emong you. 1564 N. Haward tr. Eutropius Briefe Chron. vii. sig. M.viii He woulde not lightlye punyshe anye..with anye grevouser penaltye then by banishment only. 1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. iv. 12 Signifying..his own grievous indignation against me. 1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 146 War is a thing that punishes men, with the greatest, and grievousest punishments that can bee. †d. Of persons: Causing trouble or annoyance to others; oppressive. Of an assailant: Pressing hard on. Obsolete. ΚΠ c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Cor. xii. 14 I schal not be greuous [L. gravis] to ȝou. 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur i. xiv The Duke Eustace..and Kynge Claryaunce..were alweye greuous on Vlfyus. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 124/2 And as she that was besy and greuous to hym he said to her goo unto the holy man that is named Effraym. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. vii. B Is it not ynough for you, that ye be greuous vnto men, but ye must greue my God also? 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. x. 62 Ye shall be grieuouse to no man with beggyng. 1587 J. Hooker tr. Giraldus Cambrensis Vaticinall Hist. Conquest Ireland i. vi. 8/1 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II To his owne people he was rough and greeuous, and hatefull vnto strangers. 1600 J. Jane in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (new ed.) III. 847 I do..intreat you all, first to forgiue me in whatsoeuer I haue bin grieuous vnto you. e. Of a complaint: Pressing heavily on the person complained of. (In later use merely intensive or associated with sense 5 or 6.) ΚΠ 1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Kiiij Mouinge greuous complayntes agaynste them before the King of Spaine. 1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. v. 447 The complaints I heare of thee are greeuous . View more context for this quotation a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 370 They raised a grievous outcry for the want of a National Synod to regulate our worship and government. 1870 Fortn. Rev. July 175 There is the same grievous complaint against the time and its men and its spirit. 2. a. Of things, events, accidents, etc.: Bringing serious trouble or discomfort; having injurious effects; †causing hurt or pain. (Now only with mixture of sense 5 —‘grievous to think of’—qualifying intensively a noun denoting something painful or injurious.) ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > [adjective] litherc893 scathefulc900 balefulOE orneOE teenfulOE evilc1175 venomousc1290 scathela1300 prejudiciala1325 fell?c1335 harmfula1340 grievous1340 ill1340 wicked1340 noisomea1382 venomed1382 noyfulc1384 damageousc1386 mischievousc1390 unwholesomea1400 undisposingc1400 damnablec1420 prejudiciable1429 contagiousc1440 damagefulc1449 pestiferous1458 damageable1474 pestilent?a1475 nuisable1483 nocible1490 nuisible1490 nuisant1494 noxiousa1500 nocent?c1500 pestilential1531 tortious1532 pestilentious1533 nocive1538 offensivea1548 vitiating1547 dangerous1548 offending1552 dispendious1557 injurious1559 offensible1575 offensant1578 baneful1579 incommodious1579 prejudicious1579 prejudical1595 inimicous1598 damnifiable1604 taking1608 obnoxious1612 nocivousc1616 mischieving1621 nocuous1627 nocumentous1644 disserviceable1645 inimical1645 detrimentous1648 injuring1651 detrimental1656 inimicitial1656 nocumental1657 incommodous1677 fatal1681 inimic1696 nociferous1706 damnific1727 inimicable1805 violational1821 insalutary1836 detrimentary1841 wronging1845 unsalvatory1850 damaging1856 damnous1870 wack1986 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [adjective] > harmful or injurious > very balefulOE wanlichc1275 grievous1340 malignc1350 maliciousa1398 venom1538 virulent1563 malignant1564 blasting1591 fatal1681 blighting1796 terminal1952 1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 1565 And þa, þat with swylk gyses God greves, Sall fall in many grevos myscheves. c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Cambr.) i. pr. iv. 8 By-twixen wikked folkes and me han ben greuos descordes. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Heb. xii. B No maner chatisynge for the present tyme semeth to be ioyous, but greuous [also 1611 and 1881]. 1549 J. Cheke Hurt of Sedicion sig. E6 Can we not looke for a greuouser and perilouser daunger then the plage is? 1604 T. Wright Passions of Minde (new ed.) v. 253 The greater perill, or grievouser evill incurred by the gift, encrease the goodnesse and valuation of the gift. 1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate 4 We see daily many greeuous fractures healed without it [sc. the Trapan]. 1751 J. Jortin Serm. (1771) I. iii. 43 We are there told that grievous inconveniences would follow such rigorous methods. 1864 D. G. Mitchell Seven Stories 281 Emile was laboring under a grievous delusion. 1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. i. 22 Wide-ruling Agamemnon may perceive How grievous was his folly. †b. Hurtful or injurious to something. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > [adjective] > to thing or person grievous1398 injuriousa1513 nought1532 venomousa1616 sinister1726 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [adjective] > harmful or injurious > to or for some thing or person grievous1398 nought1532 naughty1573 poisonousa1616 venomousa1616 1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) vi. v. 193 Chyldren desire thynges that is to theym contrary and greuous. c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 123 For colde ys most greuest to bonys & to pannycles þat beþ woundyde. †c. Offensive to the senses; having a bad taste, smell, etc. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > unsavouriness > [adjective] uglyc1540 grievous1578 naughty1578 unrelishable1603 unrelishing1611 unsapory1638 insapory1665 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. xxx. 43 It is also of a very grievous savour. 1752 J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) App. 277 The Sheriff is required to visit and inspect such Room, and to disallow or prohibit the Use of the same, in case it shall appear to be grievous or unhealthy. †d. loosely. Excessively great or strong. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > [adjective] > excessive or too great in amount or degree > excessive in degree unmeasurablea1398 dismeasurec1400 dismeasurable1477 dismeasured1483 over1494 endlya1513 intolerable1544 wide1574 overloading1576 unconscionable1576 meanless1587 powerable1588 hyperbolical1589 extravagant1598 grievous1632 flagrant1634 exorbitant1648 overbearinga1708 unbalanced1712 well-favoured1746 steep1856 thick1884 ripe1918 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iv. 153 And the forequarters and head they throw into a grievous fire. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. v. 193 A great Torrent..that maketh a greivous noyse night and day. 3. a. Of a disease, wound, or pain: Causing great suffering or danger; acute, severe. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > severity > [adjective] heavyc825 grimc900 strongeOE hardeOE drearyOE eileOE sweerOE deara1000 bitterOE tartc1000 smartOE unridec1175 sharp?c1225 straitc1275 grievousc1290 fellc1330 shrewda1387 snella1400 unsterna1400 vilea1400 importunea1425 ungainc1425 thrallc1430 peisant1483 sore?a1513 weighty1540 heinous?1541 urgent?1542 asperous?1567 dure1567 spiny1586 searching1590 hoara1600 vengible1601 flinty1613 tugging1642 atrocious1733 uncannya1774 severe1774 stern1830 punishing1833 hefty1867 solid1916 the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > characteristics > [adjective] > violent or severe grimc900 strongeOE grievousc1290 burning1393 acutea1398 maliciousa1398 peracutea1398 sorea1400 wicked14.. malign?a1425 vehement?a1425 malignousc1475 angrya1500 cacoethe?1541 eager?1543 virulent1563 malignant1568 raging1590 roaring1590 furious1597 grassant1601 hearty1601 sharp1607 main1627 generous1632 perperacute1647 serious1655 ferine1666 bad1705 severe1725 unfavourable1782 grave1888 the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > types of pain > [adjective] > relating to agony or torment > causing agony or torment sharpc1000 grievousc1290 smartc1300 fellc1330 unsufferablea1340 keena1375 poignantc1390 rending?c1400 furiousc1405 stoutc1425 unbearablec1449 agonizing1570 tormenting1575 cruciable1578 raging1590 tormentuous1597 pungent1598 racking1598 acute1615 wrenching1618 excruciating1664 grinding1681 excruciate1773 discruciating1788 unendurable1801 of bare sufferance1823 perialgic1893 c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 100/5 On Dame Eutice cam a siknesse: swiþe greuous and long. Four ȝer he hadde gret pine. 1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 2910 And þat syght es a payn ful grevous; For þe devels er swa foul and ydous. c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 499 He hadde a greuous wounde. 1471 G. Ripley Compound of Alchymy vi. xv, in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chem. Britannicum (1652) 164 Wyth grevose throwys. c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 293 Thes grawous peynes make me ner mad! 1552 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16279) Letany sig. .vii^v This plague and greuous sickenesse. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 501 A World who would not purchase with a bruise, Or much more grievous pain? View more context for this quotation 1683 W. Salmon Doron Medicum i. 2984 The Leprosy is a more grievious Disease. 1865 R. W. Dale Jewish Temple v. 58 The sufferings of Christ were grievous. 1879 J. M. Duncan Clin. Lect. Dis. Women ix. 95 This disease..is not considered grievous enough to secure a bed in the hospital. b. grievous bodily harm, a legal term denoting a serious injury (see quot. 1959). Also transferred. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > [noun] > wound > serious or mortal wound death's woundc1300 death woundc1330 grievous bodily harm1861 homer1942 society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > unlawful violence mayhem1447 forcea1481 mutilation1517 actual bodily harm1837 grievous bodily harm1861 ABH1975 1861 Act 24 & 25 Victoria c. 100 §20 Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously wound or inflict any grievous bodily Harm upon any other Person, either with or without any Weapon or Instrument, shall be guilty of a Misdemeanour. 1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights iii. 166 Bottles was doing a lagging G.B.H.! (Grievious Bodily Harm). 1959 Earl Jowitt & C. Walsh Dict. Eng. Law I. 258/2 Bodily harm, any injury which is merely technical or trivial, as distinguished from the more serious injury termed ‘actual bodily harm’, or the still more serious injury termed ‘grievous bodily harm’. 1968 Listener 11 July 62/2 The spectator whose heart lifts at the sight of Clark Graebner committing grievous bodily harm on a tennis ball is a fortunate man indeed. 4. Of a fault, crime, sin, etc.: Involving a grave degree of guilt, deserving heavy penalties. In later use chiefly with stronger sense: Atrocious, flagrant, heinous. Now only archaic. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > heinousness > [adjective] awlyc1200 grievousa1300 grilla1300 uglya1300 strongc1300 outrageousa1325 heinousc1374 excessive1393 curseda1400 fella1400 misshapenc1400 rankc1400 monstruousc1425 enorm1481 prodigiousc1487 villainous1489 nefand1490 sceleratea1513 monstrous1531 funestal1538 enormious1545 facinorous1548 flagitious1550 dire1567 bonable1575 felonious1575 bomination1589 unvenial?1589 heathenish1592 enormous1593 villainous1598 nameless1611 pitchy1612 funest1636 funestous1641 scarleta1643 nefandous1649 aversable1663 atrocious1669 frightful1700 flagrant1706 atrocea1734 diabolical1750 unspeakable1831 society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > extremely wicked > specifically of actions or qualities strong?c1225 grievousa1300 flagitious1550 grossful1613 scarleta1643 atrocious1669 atrocea1734 purple1905 a1300 Cursor Mundi 26451 A sin of vnkindnes..þat als greues es [Fairf. þat iiij sa mikil greuouse is] Als all his oþer sinnes ware. c1380 Eng. Wycliffite Serm. in Sel. Wks. II. 240 Of al synnes þat now ben þis is moost perelouse and grevous. 1395 Remonstr. against Rom. Corrupt. (1851) 14 Auarice and symonie ben greuosere synnis in him thanne is bodili fornicacioun. 1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. ee.vii^v Haue not we commytted many more greuouser offences than these be? 1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. F7^v We see greeuous crimes, and flagicious facts..daily committed. a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iii. ii. 80 The Noble Brutus, Hath told you Cæsar was Ambitious: If it were so, it was a greeuous Fault, And greeuously hath Cæsar answer'd it. View more context for this quotation a1656 J. Hales Golden Remains (1659) i. 81 Those are the more heavy and grievouser sins of our lives. 1683 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) I. 87 A Heynous and Grevious Crime. 1860 G. A. Sala Lady Chesterfield's Lett. Pref. 4 This little book.. has from first to last one grievous artistic fault. 5. Causing mental pain or distress. Now with narrowed sense: Exciting grief or intense sorrow. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > [adjective] > causing sorrow or grief sorelyc888 sorrowfulOE sorryOE yomerlyOE rueful?c1225 grievous1297 heavyc1374 sada1375 deefulc1380 grievable1390 grieffula1400 grievingc1450 trist?c1450 tristfula1492 dolorousa1500 doly?1553 mournful?1570 griefsome1635 tristifical1656 melancholy1710 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 4140 At tyme of midniȝt of þe niȝt, him mette a greuous cas. Him þoȝte he sey a grislich bere [etc.]. c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xxxix. 314 I..was assoyled of alle that lay in my Conscience, of many a dyverse grevous poynt. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Esdras v. 21 After seuen dayes it happened, that y^e thoughtes of my hert were very greuous vnto me agayne. 1548 Order of Communion sig. B.iv The remembraunce of them is greuouse vnto vs. 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. i. 142 This newes is bad indeede..Tis very grieuous to be thought vpon. View more context for this quotation 1692 S. Pepys Let. 9 Jan., Diary (1879) VI. 172 I would have come at you the other night at St. Martin's on that grievous occasion, but could not. 1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 472. ⁋8 The Pleasures and Advantages of Sight being so great, the Loss must be very grievous. 1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. v. 98 It was so very grievous to her to think that [etc.]. 1833 H. Martineau Brooke & Brooke Farm (ed. 3) vii. 87 It was grievous to see in a short time how poorly they lived. 6. Full of grief; very sad or sorrowful. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > [adjective] sorelyc888 gramec893 sorrowfuleOE unblithec897 sorryeOE carefulOE charyOE sickOE yomerOE sorry-moodOE sweerc1000 yomerlyOE sorrilyOE woea1200 balec1220 sorry?c1225 sorec1275 sorec1275 gremefula1300 sada1300 ruthlyc1300 thoughtfulc1300 woebegonea1325 heavyc1330 grievousc1374 woefula1375 sorrowya1382 dereful?a1400 sorousa1400 sytefula1400 teenfula1400 wrotha1400 balefulc1400 tristy?c1400 tristc1420 dolefulc1430 wapped in woec1440 yhevidc1440 dolenta1450 condolentc1460 discomforted1477 tristfula1492 sorrow1496 dram?a1513 dolorous1513 earnful?1527 troublous1535 amort1546 mournfula1558 passioned1560 sadded1566 tristive1578 distressed1586 passionate1586 sorrowed1596 distressful1601 passionful1605 sighful1606 contristed1625 anguishinga1642 sadful1658 saddened1665 tristitious1694 sick as a parrot1705 pangful1727 woesome1778 grieving1807 ruesome1833 yearned1838 doleant1861 mournsome1869 thoughted1869 tragical1887 grief-stricken1905 c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Cambr.) i. pr. i. 3 And she, byholdynge my cheere, þat was..heuy and greuos of wepynge, compley[n]de..þat I shal seyen the perturbacyon of my thowht. 1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 2nd Pt. sig. H The heire of mighty Baiazeth..Reuiues the spirits of all true Turkish heartes, In grieuous memorie of his fathers shame. 1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 36 And when he sees you come with a knife..to kill him, he vapours out the grievousest sighes, that ever you heard any creature make. 1828 N. Hawthorne Fanshawe ix. 124 Women..wearing a deep-grievous expression of countenance. 1893 Daily News 9 Jan. 5/6 All the while the grievous mother stands by..and varies the dreary tale of pecuniary difficulty by telling [etc.]. 7. quasi-adv. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly > specifically of something bad sorea1300 grievously1340 terrible1490 beastly?1518 shrewdlyc1533 arrantly?1548 murrainly?1548 abominablea1550 pestilence1567 pestilently1567 cursedly1570 pestiferously1570 murrain1575 plaguey1584 plaguilya1586 grievous1598 scandalously1602 horridly1603 terribly1604 monstrously1611 hellish1614 dreadfullya1616 horrid1615 pestilenta1616 infernally1638 preposterously1661 woeful1684 confoundedly1694 confounded1709 glaringly1709 cursed1719 flagrantly1756 weary1790 disgustingly1804 filthy1827 blamed1833 peskily1833 pesky1833 blame1843 blasted1854 wickedly1858 blatantly1878 shamelessly1885 disgracefully1893 ruddy1913 bastarda1935 pissing1951 sodding1954 pissingly1971 1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. i. 16 He cannot come my lord, he is grieuous sicke. View more context for this quotation Derivatives ˈgrievoushead n. [-head suffix] = grievousness n. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > cause of mental pain or suffering > [noun] > quality grievousheada1400 painfulnessc1400 importunityc1475 grievousness1509 grievesomeness1583 sting1860 distressfulness1890 plangency1900 a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS x. 47 Meur wiþ-outen greuoushed And Murie wiþ-outen wyldehed. 1496 (c1410) Dives & Pauper (de Worde) vi. xxiii. 271/2 Only god knoweth the greuoushede of dedely synne. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.c1290
随便看	to be off one's mark to be off one's nana to be off sick to be off the beam to be off the mark to be off the watch to be off to a —— start to be off with the old love to be off with the old love before one is on with the new to be old dog at to be old news to be on to be on a good wicket to be on a hiding to nothing to be on a person's ass to be on a person's case to be on a person's jack to be on a person's, the other side of the fence to be on a promise to be on a sticky wicket to be on a stint to be on about to be on all fours to be on another planet to be on at