Idioms Translator
Base language: EN
Letter: g
Total idioms: 9849 - currently selected: 623 (50 per page)Grasp at straws
If you are in a desperate situation and you grasp at straws, you try any method, even if it has little chance of success, in an attempt to find a solution.
Examples:
In his search for a cure, he turned to a faith healer, knowing that he was grasping at straws.
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Grasp at straws
grasp (clutch, grab) at straws (a straw)
1. (idiomatic) To guess randomly at or pursue any apparent option, as due to lack of options or information.
? I've never met his mother, so I'm grasping at straws for an appropriate gift for her.
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Grasp the nettle
grasp the nettle
1. (idiomatic) To act boldly, especially when there are short-term adverse consequences.
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Grasp/clutch at straws
If you are in a desperate situation and you grasp at straws, you try any method, even if it has little chance of success, in an attempt to find a solution.
Examples:
In his search for a cure, he turned to a faith healer, knowing that he was grasping at straws.
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Grass roots
grass roots (uncountable)
1. (idiomatic) People and society at the local (most basic) level rather than at the national centre of political activity
2. The essential foundation or source of something
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Grass tops
grass tops (not comparable)
1. (idiomatic) Of, related to, or involving local influential figures.
grass tops
1. plural form of grass top
2. (idiomatic, plural only) People in a position of power or influence at a local level.
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Grass widower
grass widower (plural grass widowers)
1. (idiomatic, rare) A married man whose wife is away.
2. A divorcé.
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Grasstops
grasstops (not comparable)
1. (idiomatic) Of, related to, or involving local influential figures.
grasstops
1. plural form of grasstop
2. (idiomatic, plural only) People in a position of power or influence at a local level.
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Gravitationally challenged
gravitationally challenged (comparative more gravitationally challenged, superlative most gravitationally challenged)
1. (idiomatic, euphemistic, often humorous) Of a person, fat.
2. (idiomatic, euphemistic, often humorous) Of a person, having a poor sense of balance; subject to intervals of dizziness.
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Gravy train
If someone is on the gravy train, they have found an easy way to make money, one that requires little effort and is without risk.
gravy train (plural gravy trains)
1. (idiomatic) An occupation or any lucrative endeavor that generates considerable income whilst requiring little effort and carrying little risk.
2. (idiomatic, politics) A gorging on luxuries, since someone else foots the bill.
Examples:
Since the village has become fashionable, he charges for every photograph taken of his house - he's on a gravy train!
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Grease monkey
grease monkey (plural grease monkeys)
1. (idiomatic, slang) A mechanic, often with the specific connotation of an automobile mechanic.
? I'm no grease monkey, but I can manage to change out my engine's spark plugs without assistance.
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Grease payment
grease payment (plural grease payments)
1. (chiefly US, idiomatic, business, law, ethics) A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
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Grease someone's palm
If you accuse someone of greasing somebody's palm, you are accusing them of giving money to someone in order to gain an unfair advantage or to obtain something they want.
Examples:
In some countries, it is common practice to grease government officials' palms.
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Grease the skids
When you grease the skids, you facilitate something or smooth the way for its success.
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Lunch was organized for the delegates before the meeting in order to grease the skids for the negotiations.
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Greasy spoon
greasy spoon (plural greasy spoons)
1. (idiomatic) An inexpensive diner or other informal restaurant, especially one specializing in frying or grilling.
? We found a good little greasy spoon down a side street.
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Great beyond
the great beyond (uncountable)
1. (idiomatic) the afterlife
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Great deal
great deal (uncountable)
1. (idiomatic) A large number or amount.
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Great haste makes great waste
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Greaba strica treaba
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Great unwashed
great unwashed (plural only)
1. (idiomatic) A contemptuous term for the populace, particularly the working class.
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Greatest thing since sliced bread
greatest thing since sliced bread
1. (idiomatic) A relatively recent invention likely to significantly improve people's lives.
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Greek calends
Greek calends (plural only)
1. (idiomatic) A time that never occurs; never; when pigs fly.
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Green about the gills
green about the gills
1. (idiomatic) Ill or unwell, especially as indicated by one's appearance.
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Green as a gooseberry
green as a gooseberry
1. (idiomatic) young and inexperienced
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Green fingers
To have green fingers means to be good at gardening.
green fingers (plural only)
1. (idiomatic) A seemingly natural gardening ability
Examples:
My dad was born with green fingers. He's great with plants.
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Green light
If you give or get the green light, you give or get a signal or authorization to do something.
green light (plural green lights)
1. A traffic light in its green state (indicating that vehicles may proceed).
? The drive home was much faster than usual; somehow we managed to hit every green light.
2. (idiomatic) approval, or permission to proceed.
? We have a green light on the project. Work starts today.
Examples:
We're ready to launch the campaign as soon as we get the green light.
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Green state
green state (plural green states)
1. (US, idiomatic) Somewhat whimsical term for environmentally friendly state. (In the modern United States) a state that is, or is perceived as, environmentally friendly.
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Green thumb
green thumb (plural green thumbs)
1. (US, idiomatic) A natural skill for gardening.
2. (US) A person with this skill.
? I should ask the green thumb next door what she recommends for my droopy daffodils.
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Green with envy
Someone who is green with envy is a person who is very envious.
green with envy
1. (idiomatic) Consumed by envy; envious to the point where it is noticeable to others.
Examples:
Dave will be green with envy when he sees Simon's new sports car!
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Greener pastures
greener pastures (plural only)
1. (idiomatic) Any place or condition that is more favorable or beneficial.
? He worked there for two years before leaving for greener pastures.
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Grey amber
grey amber (uncountable)
1. Used other than as an idiom: see grey, amber.
? Although amber is most famously yellow, red amber, black amber, grey amber and even blue amber also exists.
2. (rare) Ambergris.
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Grey area
grey area (plural grey areas)
1. (idiomatic) An area intermediate between two mutually exclusive states or categories, where the border between the two is fuzzy.
? It exists in a grey area between legal and illegal.
2. (idiomatic) A topic that is not clearly one thing or the other, that is open to interpretation.
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Grey area (us: gray)
To refer to something as a grey area means that it is not clear or easy to define, and is therefore difficult to deal with.
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The law concerning email is still a grey area in some countries.
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Grey existance
To have a grey existence means to lead a dull, monotonous life.
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I feel sad for the old lady. She seems to have such a grey existence.
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Grey matter
Grey matter refers to the brain, or the grey colour of brain tissue.
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"Try using your grey matter and you might find the answer." said the teacher.
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Grin and bear it
When faced with a difficult or unpleasant situation, if you say that someone will have to grin and bear it, you mean that they will have to accept it without complaining.
Examples:
The only seat available is on a low-cost flight. You'll just have to grin and bear it!
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Grin from ear to ear
If somebody is grinning from ear to ear, they look very satisfied and happy.
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When we saw Paul grinning from ear to ear, we knew he had passed the exam.
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Grin like a cheshire cat
When someone has a smile on their face because they are happy or satisfied about something, they grin like a Cheshire cat.
grin like a Cheshire Cat
1. (idiomatic) To smile broadly, especially in a self-satisfied way.
? John ended the set with a beautiful serve, an ace, and could not help grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Examples:
I knew she had succeeded when I saw her with a grin like a Cheshire cat.
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Grind down
grind down
1. (idiomatic, transitive) To weaken someone's morale over a long period.
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Grind one's gears
grind somebody's gears (third-person singular simple present grinds somebody's gears, present participle grinding somebody's gears, simple past and past participle ground somebody's gears)
1. (idiomatic) To annoy or irritate.
? It really grinds my gears when inconsiderate people litter.
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Grind out
grind out
1. (idiomatic) To produce something with ease, as if it is a chore.
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Grind to a halt
grind to a halt (third-person singular simple present grinds to a halt, present participle grinding to a halt, simple past and past participle ground to a halt)
1. (idiomatic, intransitive, of a productive activity) Coming to a standstill, or ceasing to be productive or make progress, due to an obstacle.
? Work on the new high-rise ground to a halt as contract
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Grist for the mill
grist for the mill (uncountable)
1. (idiomatic, chiefly US) Something that is useful or that creates a favorable opportunity.
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Grist to the mill
grist to the mill (uncountable)
1. (idiomatic, chiefly UK) Alternative form of grist for the mill.
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Grit your teeth
When you are determined to do something in spite of the difficulties involved, you grit your teeth.
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To reach safety I had to grit my teeth and wade through the mud.
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Groan inwardly
If you groan inwardly, you feel like expressing despair, disapproval or distress, but you remain silent.
Examples:
On his return, when Pete saw the pile of files on his desk, he groaned inwardly.
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Ground ball with eyes
ground ball with eyes (plural ground balls with eyes)
1. (idiomatic, baseball, humorous) A weakly hit ground ball that barely evades the infielders.
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Ground rule
ground rule (plural ground rules)
1. (sports) A rule regarding play on a specific field, course, or court.
2. (idiomatic, usually in the plural) The basic rules or standards; whatever someone must know before proceeding.
? Make sure everybody knows the ground rules for the trip before they leave.
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Grow a pair
grow a pair
1. (idiomatic, indelicate) To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation in which one has so far failed to do so.
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Grow cold
grow cold
1. (intransitive, idiomatic) To wane; to lose interest or enthusiasm for something or someone; to become disenchanted or to fall out of love with someone.
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Grow on
grow on (third-person singular simple present grows on, present participle growing on, simple past grew on, past participle grown on)
1. (idiomatic, transitive) To become more likeable to someone.
? I didn't like this song at first, but now it's starting to grow on me.
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