to get a grip
- phrasal verb
- Informal
- After the unexpected news, she had to remind herself to get a grip before reacting.
And if you feel that you need to get a grip, here's your sign.
- And if you feel that you need to get a grip, here's your sign.
- I urge these people to try to get a grip, OK?
- People noticed that it was crazy, but I got a grip and I went in and I just did my job.
- This is the last one I'm going to read to just showcase how these people need to get a grip.
- The American public, the people that voted for this, the triple Trumpers, have got to get a grip.
- I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm a confident person, but even I couldn't seem to get a grip of my own desire to react emotionally in that situation.
- If I can name it, I can get a grip on it.
- And that's part of the problem is that we have to get a grip on reality and where we're headed.
- I definitely think that it's become useful for me, and I've gotten a grip on it enough to really use it to accomplish goals.
Examples
-
I urge these people to try to get a grip, OK?
-
Get a grip, calm down.
-
You need to get a grip.
-
The thought helped her to get a grip on herself.
Fiction book (1992) -
Will the Prime Minister get a grip or step aside?
-
Get a grip on yourself, okay?
-
I finally got a grip on my emotions and sat down to dinner.
Fiction book (1999) -
Finally, Robert told me I looked disgusting and I'd better get a grip on myself.
Fiction book (2000) -
I stopped abruptly and tried to get a grip on myself.
Fiction book (1992) -
So, Stephen, let's get a grip on ourselves and try to have a conversation in a calm, civilized, and dare I say, Christian manner.
Synonyms
To relax and become calm after you feel upset
Get control of your feelings and calm down after being upset
To stop yourself from showing strong feelings
Stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation
Stay calm and control your feelings when things are hard
To stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation
To become calm after strong feelings or to tell someone else to calm down
Start to understand and control your feelings or a hard situation
Put your thoughts and feelings in order after a time of confusion
Stop yourself from showing a feeling when you want to cry
Make yourself calm again after being upset
To stay calm and in control during a difficult situation
Antonyms
How Composed
Surface Forms
Morphology
get + a + grip
The meaning 'to regain control of one's emotions or actions' is directly inferable from combining 'get' (to obtain) with 'grip' (a hold or control). The metaphor of 'getting a hold/control' is conceptually transparent and common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to derive the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Get a grip comes from the simple picture of grabbing something firmly with your hand — you take a grip so it does not slip. So to get a grip on yourself means 'to regain control of your feelings or actions' and become steady.