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Glite Dictionary
to be a grinch

to be a grinch

8.8
To act mean and spoil other people's fun at parties
  • idiom
  • /bi ə ɡrɪntʃ/
  • Offensive
translation icon : ser un aguafiestas
  • She doesn't want to be a grinch and spoil everyone else's enjoyment of the festivities.

Examples

  • He always acts like a grinch when it comes to holiday parties, refusing to celebrate.

  • If you keep being a grinch about the decorations, we won't have any fun this season.

  • Yeah, he's just being a grinch.

    This Is Christmas (2022)

  • Yeah, he's just being a grinch.

    This Is Christmas (2022)

Synonyms

to be mingy
vsto be a grinch
  • UK
9.5

To not want to give or share things

is narrower, acting stingily and spoiling joy during festive times

Antonyms

friendly
773 1.0

Kind and helpful toward other people

generous
79 1.2

Willing to forgive small mistakes and not be strict

How Mean

maliciously
10 7.1
cruel
522 2.7
to be a grinch
  • Offensive
8.8
stingily
1 8.4

Surface Forms

be a grinch infinitive
was a grinch past
been a grinch past participle
being a grinch present participle
is a grinch third person singular

Morphology

be + a + grinch

The meaning is directly derived from the simple 'be a X' construction: if a learner knows 'grinch' meaning 'someone who dampens others' festive mood', then 'be a grinch' straightforwardly means to act like that person. This compositional pattern is common and predictable (aside from the cultural origin of 'Grinch'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will understand it.

Etymology

The phrase be a grinch comes from Dr. Seuss's story 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'. In the book the Grinch is a grumpy character who steals presents and tries to stop people enjoying the holiday, so to be a grinch means 'to spoil the fun' or 'be mean' at celebrations.