Words / B1

GRIP/ɡrɪp/

A grip is a firm hold, or control of a situation: lose your grip; a firm grip; get a grip (informal: control yourself). Grasp is a close twin (already in the dictionary). Do not mix grip with grippe (old word for flu). Politics: lose your grip on power.

Meaning

A firm hold; also control of a situation (lose your grip).

Examples

• “Ice on the platform made it hard to keep a grip.”
• “The mayor was accused of losing his grip on the housing brief.”

Good to know

a firm grip; lose / keep your grip (on). Informal: get a grip. Close: grasp. Politics: grip on power. Mix-up: grippe (flu, archaic).

Near in meaning

grasp

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