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Glite Dictionary
to be a grinch

to be a grinch

1 8.8
To act mean and spoil other people's fun at parties
  • idiom
  • /bi ə ɡrɪntʃ/
  • Offensive
: 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
1 9.5

To not want to give or share things

is narrower, acting stingily and spoiling joy during festive times

Antonyms

friendly
763 1.0

Kind and helpful toward other people

generous
7 1.2

Willing to forgive small mistakes and not be strict

How Mean

maliciously
9 7.1
cruel
474 2.7
to be a grinch
  • Offensive
1 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.