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to grouse

to grouse

14 7.4
To complain about small unimportant things
  • verb
  • /ɡraʊs/
  • UK
: quejarse de
  • U.S. soldiers know all too well their own deficiencies and vulnerabilities: they grouse about aging trucks, jammed rifles, and intermittent data links.

If they retire, they may not grouse about work as much, but a new set of problems may come in.

Examples

  • What's the use of grousing about it?

  • "Can't you do this without my help, Tin Man?" he groused.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • I can grouse about the food and the CO and anything I plain please.

  • If they retire, they may not grouse about work as much, but a new set of problems may come in.

  • What are you two grousing about?

  • New Yorkers keep voting him into office and then grouse and complain after they do.

    Blog text (20)
  • When it appeared that Hayes had lost, Republicans groused about the candidate's studied silence.

    Academic text (1997)
  • "She's never been that fussy about her car before," Max groused as he came out of the office.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Her comrades quietly absorb this proclamation, then file out, grousing good-naturedly.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • She always grouses about the weather when it rains on her picnic plans.

Synonyms

to complain
vsto grouse
∞ 1.0

To say you are unhappy about something and want it changed

is specifically about frequent petty complaints without seeking change
to bitch
vsto grouse
  • NSFW
124 8.1

To complain a lot in an annoying way

is milder and often less hostile in its tone
to holler
vsto grouse
  • Informal
100 8.0

To complain loudly about something you think is unfair

tends to be calmer and focused on petty dissatisfaction
to grumble
vsto grouse
46 3.7

To complain quietly in a low voice

is more general and can include louder or casual complaints
to harp
vsto grouse
  • Informal
31 6.6

To keep complaining about something in a way that annoys people

is similar but can be used for single or occasional complaints
to gripe
vsto grouse
  • Informal
25 5.6

To complain repeatedly about small things

is less persistent and more general about small complaints
to bitch and moan
vsto grouse
  • NSFW
14 9.6

To complain a lot in an annoying way

expresses similar annoyance but can be less aggressive
to squawk
vsto grouse
  • Informal
13 6.0

To complain loudly in a way that annoys other people

is often quieter and more about small, unimportant things
to grumble about
vsto grouse
10 4.1

To complain quietly about something you do not like

is less tied to voice and more about minor complaints
to bellyache
vsto grouse
  • Informal
9 6.8

To complain a lot in an annoying way

is about ordinary complaints often about unimportant matters
to carp
vsto grouse
7 7.9

To complain about small or unimportant things

is a more general complaint about small or unimportant things
to whinge
vsto grouse
  • UK
7 8.1

To complain in an annoying way about small things

covers similar trivial complaints but is more neutral in tone
to beef
vsto grouse
  • Slang
6 8.4

To complain in an angry way about something

is less hostile and often about trivial dissatisfaction
to piss and moan
vsto grouse
  • Offensive
5 9.9

To complain a lot about small things and annoy others

is similar but can be used more broadly and less vulgar
to crab
vsto grouse
  • Informal
2 7.3

To complain in a small, repeated way

is broader and can apply to occasional minor complaints
to grouch
vsto grouse
1 6.4

To complain in a bad-tempered way

is more neutral and often refers to brief or petty complaints
to grump
vsto grouse
1 4.9

To complain when you are in a bad mood

is focused on expressing complaint rather than overall sulkiness
to plain
vsto grouse
  • Archaic
1 7.9

To keep saying you are unhappy about something

is used commonly for complaining about unimportant matters
to grizzle
vsto grouse
  • UK
1 8.2

To complain in a sulky, childish way about small things

is not necessarily childish, more commonly neutral annoyance
to voice a grievance
vsto grouse
  • Formal
1 6.3

To express a complaint or concern, often publicly

is informal and usually about small, private annoyances
to gruntled
vsto grouse
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To complain quietly because you are unhappy

is more specific to casual complaints about trivial things
to snivel over
vsto grouse
  • Informal
1 8.6

To complain in a sad, self-pitying way about small problems

is broader and not always self-pitying in its tone
to grutch
vsto grouse
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To complain in a quiet, old-fashioned way

is the common, everyday term for small or unimportant complaints

Antonyms

381 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

300 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

Compounds

1 8.6

A large North American bird that lives in sagebrush and shows a mating dance

1 9.1

A medium-sized North American forest bird with a fan-shaped tail and neck feathers often hunted

1 9.0

A reddish-brown bird that lives on high moors in Britain and is often hunted

A large land bird with pointed tail feathers found in western prairies and open forests

1 9.0

A brown bird with spotted feathers that lives on grasslands in western North America

spruce grouse
  • Specialized
1 8.9

A forest bird that lives in pine and fir woods and eats evergreen needles

1 8.5

A large bird from Europe and Asia whose male is blue-black with a curved tail

1 9.4

A pigeon-like bird with long pointed wings that lives in dry desert areas

A small bush that grows in northwest North America and has bright red berries

8.2

A large dark bird from western Asia that performs a mating display

A large black bird from northern Europe with a tail that curves like a lyre

9.9

A small bush with red berries that grows in northwest North America

A bird with very long middle tail feathers

How Complaining

to rant
  • Informal
72 4.8
to gripe
  • Informal
25 5.6
to grouse
  • UK
14 7.4
to grumble
46 3.7
to moan
194 1.0

Surface Forms

grouse infinitive
groused past
groused past participle
grousing present participle
grouses third person singular

Etymology

Grouse meaning 'to complain' is British slang and its exact origin is unclear, but a helpful way to remember it is to think of someone who is a grouch making small complaints. So to grouse is to grumble about something unimportant.