to get to grips with

Examples

• All

• When youngsters head off to college, managing a budget can be one of the most difficult things to get to grips with, as the chances are they will have never had to do it before.

  Blog text (5)

• Speaker, the Foreign Secretary's leaked letter on the Irish border shows he can't get to grips with one of the most fundamental issues of Brexit.

• Feel what you just described when you first get to grips with the idea of this new coming wave.

  The Diary Of A CEO

• No, it's... just not being able to get out and get to grips with things.

  The Face of Fu Manchu (1965)

• But this does not mean that this year there are no new things to get to grips with.

  Academic text (2014)

• And then after about six months, I was getting to grips with the trauma.

  Anything Goes With James English

• Until he got to grips with the power and had some experiences with the bike, he was taking enormous risks every session.

  Hitting the Apex (2015)

• I'm still getting to grips with it, but I see so many advantages to it.

  Blog text (11)

• Whilst the track has proved rather difficult to get to grips with, experiencing its characteristics for the first time has been quite fascinating.

  Blog text (33)

• Second screens are expanding and enhancing this, though, and we are doing our best to get to grips with what this means and how best to make the most of it.

  Blog text (4)

Synonyms

G

to grasp

vsto get to grips with

146 4.1

To understand something difficult clearly

refers to the initial phase of understanding or dealing rather than mastery

G

to grapple with

vsto get to grips with

52 6.1

To try hard to deal with a difficult problem or situation

means to begin understanding or dealing rather than sustained intense struggle

C

to come to grips

vsto get to grips with

30 5.5

Start to accept and deal with a difficult situation

emphasizes beginning both understanding and effective handling

H

to have a handle on

vsto get to grips with

16 4.2

To understand something well enough to deal with it

refers to the initial stage of understanding or dealing, not possession

G

to get a grip on

vsto get to grips with

• Informal

13 4.0

Start to understand and control your feelings or a hard situation

focuses on starting to understand or handle without stressing control

G

to get to grips

vsto get to grips with

• UK

2 5.7

To begin to deal with or understand a difficult problem

has identical sense but differs only in wording or form

G

to get onto

vsto get to grips with

• Informal

1 5.1

Start to understand something after finding it confusing

applies to beginning to understand or deal without that prior confusion

Antonyms

I

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

O

to overlook

243 2.9

To not notice someone or something you should see

How Well

master

791 4.2

to handle

∞ 2.1

to get to grips with

• UK

3 5.4

to understand

∞ 1.0

to recognize

• US

705 1.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology