grip

noun

/ɡrɪp/

Idioms

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holding tightly

[countable, usually singular] grip (on somebody/something) an act of holding somebody/something tightly; a particular way of doing this synonym grasp

Keep a tight grip on the rope.
to loosen/release/relax your grip
She tried to get a grip on the icy rock.
The climber slipped and lost her grip.
She struggled from his grip.
Try adjusting your grip on the racket.

Extra Examples

He finally broke her grip and escaped.
He still had a firm grip on my arm.
Her upper arms were seized in an iron grip.
His grip slackened and she tore herself away.
Hold the microphone in a firm grip.
Keep a secure grip on the rope at all times.
Robert tightened his grip on her shoulder.
She felt his grip tighten painfully on her wrist.
She relaxed her grip on the door frame.
She slipped and lost her grip of the rope.
She was powerless in his iron grip.
Taking a tight grip on the hook, he began to pull it closer.
(figurative) Winter still held them in its iron grip.

Topics Sports: ball and racket sportsc1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

firm
good
secure
…

verb + grip

have
get
take
…

grip + verb

tighten
loosen
relax
…

preposition

in a/somebody’s grip
grip on

phrases

break somebody’s grip

See full entry

control/power

[singular] grip (on somebody/something) control or power over somebody/something

The home team took a firm grip on the game.
We need to tighten the grip we have on the market.
The Prime Minister needs to keep a tight grip on his party.

Extra Examples

We need to keep a tight grip on costs.
They managed to strengthen their grip on the southern part of the country.
The Church does not have a strong grip on the population.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

firm
iron
powerful
…

verb + grip

have
get
take
…

preposition

in something’s grip
grip on

phrases

come to grips with something
get to grips with something

See full entry

understanding

[singular] grip (on something) an understanding of something synonym grasp

I couldn't get a grip on what was going on.
You need to keep a good grip on reality in this job.

Extra Examples

The government does not seem to have a very firm grip on the economy.
She has a tenuous grip on reality.

moving without slipping

[uncountable, singular] the ability of something to move over a surface without slipping

These tyres give the bus better grip in slippery conditions.
This type of sole gives a good grip on snow and ice.

part of object

[countable] a part of something that has a special surface so that it can be held without the hands slipping

the grip on a golf club

for hair

(also hairgrip (both British English), North American English bobby pin)

[countable] a small thin piece of metal or plastic folded in the middle, used by women for holding their hair in place

job in the movies

[countable] a person who prepares and moves the cameras, and sometimes the lighting equipment, when a film is being made see also key gripTopics Film and theatrec2

bag

[countable] (old-fashioned) a large soft bag, used when travelling

Word OriginOld English grippa (verb), gripe ‘grasp, clutch’ (noun), gripa ‘handful, sheath’; related to gripe.

Idioms

come/get to grips with something

to begin to understand and deal with something difficult
- I'm slowly getting to grips with the language.
- They have so far failed to come to grips with the ecological problems.

get/take a grip (on yourself)

to improve your behaviour or control your emotions after being afraid, upset or angry
- I have to take a grip on myself, he told himself firmly.
- (informal) Get a grip! (= make an effort to control your emotions)

in the grip of something

experiencing something unpleasant that cannot be stopped
- a country in the grip of recession

lose your grip (on something)

to become unable to understand or control a situation
- Sometimes I feel I'm losing my grip.

grip

verb

/ɡrɪp/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they grip	/ɡrɪp/ /ɡrɪp/
he / she / it grips	/ɡrɪps/ /ɡrɪps/
past simple gripped	/ɡrɪpt/ /ɡrɪpt/
past participle gripped	/ɡrɪpt/ /ɡrɪpt/
-ing form gripping	/ˈɡrɪpɪŋ/ /ˈɡrɪpɪŋ/

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hold tightly

[transitive, intransitive] to hold something tightly synonym grasp

grip something ‘Please don't go,’ he said, gripping her arm.
grip on to something She gripped on to the railing with both hands.

Synonyms holdhold

hold on
cling
clutch
grip
grasp
clasp
hang on

These words all mean to have somebody/something in your hands or arms.

hold
to have somebody/something in your hand or arms:
- She was holding a large box.
- I held the baby gently in my arms.
hold on (to somebody/something)
to continue to hold somebody/something; to put your hand on somebody/something and not take your hand away:
- Hold on and don’t let go until I say so.
cling
to hold on to somebody/something tightly, especially with your whole body:
- Survivors clung to pieces of floating debris.
clutch
to hold somebody/something tightly, especially in your hand; to take hold of something suddenly:
- She stood there, the flowers still clutched in her hand.
- He felt himself slipping and clutched at a branch.
grip
to hold on to something very tightly with your hand:
- Grip the rope as tightly as you can.
grasp
to take a strong hold of somebody/something:
- He grasped my hand and shook it warmly.
The object of grasp is often somebody’s hand or wrist.
clasp
(formal) to hold somebody/something tightly in your hand or in your arms:
- They clasped hands (= held each other’s hands).
- She clasped the children in her arms.
The object of clasp is often your hands, somebody else’s hand or another person.
hang on (to something)
to hold on to something very tightly, especially in order to support yourself or stop yourself from falling:
- Hang on tight. We’re off!

Patterns

to hold/clutch/grip/clasp something in your hand/hands
to hold/clutch/clasp somebody/something in your arms
to hold/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp/hang on to something
to hold/cling/hang on
to hold/clutch/clasp somebody/something to you
to hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp/hang on to somebody/something tightly
to hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp somebody/something firmly
to hold/hold on to/clutch/grip/clasp/hang on to somebody/something tight

Extra Examples

She gripped hard at the arms of her chair.
Grip the rope as tightly as you can.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

firmly
hard
tightly
…

preposition

See full entry

interest/excite

[transitive] grip somebody/something to interest or have a strong effect on somebody; to hold somebody’s attention

The book grips you from start to finish.
I was totally gripped by the story.
The campaign gripped people's imagination.
The atmosphere of the World Cup gripped the nation.

have powerful effect

[transitive] grip somebody/something (of an emotion or a situation) to have a powerful effect on somebody/something

I was gripped by a feeling of panic.
A sudden fear gripped me.
Terrorism has gripped the country for the past two years.

move/hold without slipping

[transitive, intransitive] grip (something) to hold onto or to move over a surface without slipping

tyres that grip the road

Word OriginOld English grippa (verb), gripe ‘grasp, clutch’ (noun), gripa ‘handful, sheath’; related to gripe.