2grip noun
plural grips 1 [count] a : the act of grabbing or holding something — often + on ▪ She tightened her grip on the handlebars as she coasted down the hill. ▪ I got a good grip on the door handle and pulled. ▪ He loosened/relaxed/lost his grip on the rope. — see also death grip
b : a way or style of holding something
▪ a loose/tight grip ▪ His tennis instructor showed him the proper backhand grip. ▪ a golfer with an incorrect grip 2 [singular] a : power or control
▪ He has the country in his grip. [=he controls the country] ▪ He has been doing all he can to maintain/tighten his grip on the company's finances. ◊To be in the grip of something unpleasant is to be unable to stop or escape its effect or influence.
▪ The country is in the grip of a recession. ▪ We're still in the grip of winter.
b : an understanding of something — often + on ▪ She has a good grip on local politics. [=she understands local politics well] ▪ He can't seem to get a grip on [=gain a good understanding of] calculus. 3 [count] : a part for holding something
▪ a knife with a wooden grip [=handle] ▪ I need new grips for my golf clubs.
b : a way or style of holding something
▪ a loose/tight grip ▪ His tennis instructor showed him the proper backhand grip. ▪ a golfer with an incorrect grip
▪ He has the country in his grip. [=he controls the country] ▪ He has been doing all he can to maintain/tighten his grip on the company's finances. ◊To be in the grip of something unpleasant is to be unable to stop or escape its effect or influence.
▪ The country is in the grip of a recession. ▪ We're still in the grip of winter.
b : an understanding of something — often + on ▪ She has a good grip on local politics. [=she understands local politics well] ▪ He can't seem to get a grip on [=gain a good understanding of] calculus.
▪ a knife with a wooden grip [=handle] ▪ I need new grips for my golf clubs.
come to grips with or Brit get to grips with
: to begin to understand or deal with (something, such as a problem) in a direct or effective way
▪ The government needs to come to grips with the unemployment problem.
▪ The government needs to come to grips with the unemployment problem.
get a grip on yourself or get a grip
informal : to get control of your thoughts and emotions and stop behaving in a foolish or uncontrolled way
▪ Get a grip on yourself! This is no time to be hysterical!
▪ Get a grip on yourself! This is no time to be hysterical!
lose your grip
informal : to lose control of your thoughts and emotions : to lose your ability to think or behave in a normal way
▪ I've never seen him so confused and indecisive—he really seems to be losing his grip. ▪ The patient seems to be losing his grip on reality. [=confusing what is real and what is not real]
▪ I've never seen him so confused and indecisive—he really seems to be losing his grip. ▪ The patient seems to be losing his grip on reality. [=confusing what is real and what is not real]
