to grin and bear it
3
6.8
- idiom
- Informal
- When times get tough, sometimes you just have to grin and bear it and continue working.
Examples
-
Just grin and bear it for the time being.
Fiction book (1998) -
One just has to grin and bear it, I always say.
-
I knew I had to grin and bear it because it was just part of the Black tax.
Fiction book (1996) -
So take tablets, grin and bear it, and leave for work.
-
You'll have to grin and bear it.
-
I'm sorry, Shrek, but can you please just try to grin and bear it?
-
The army teaches you to grin and bear it, doesn't it, Jem?
-
Grin and bear it.
-
Nothing for it but to grin and bear it. To demonstrate her fortitude, she grinned in Molly's direction.
Fiction book (1995) -
To homely Catholic maidens, Mrs. Mahon offered the consoling recommendation to "grin and bear it."
Academic text (1996)
Synonyms
870
3.5
To tolerate an unpleasant situation without complaining
684
3.9
To accept something unpleasant that you cannot change
425
3.9
To accept something difficult or unpleasant
265
4.3
To accept something unpleasant without complaining
139
3.5
Endure something unpleasant without complaining
100
9.9
To tell someone to accept bad news or defeat without complaining
53
8.8
Accept a difficult situation and continue without complaining
21
5.1
Accept an unpleasant situation you cannot change
18
5.0
Deal with a problem calmly without getting upset
9
8.2
Accept failure or criticism bravely without complaining
9
5.8
To accept something unpleasant that you cannot change
8
7.2
To accept unfair treatment or criticism without complaining
7
5.0
Accept what happens calmly and do not worry
1
9.9
To accept and deal with an unpleasant situation without complaining
1
8.6
Tell someone to accept a situation they cannot change
1
7.7
Accept the good and bad parts of a situation
1
8.1
To accept unpleasant results and sometimes punishment for something you did
1
8.8
Accept something as it is even if you do not like it
Accept punishment or a bad result without complaining
To accept something unpleasant during talks to avoid bigger problems
Antonyms
How Tolerant
- Informal
3
6.8
326
3.5
139
3.5
46
3.7
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'grin' (smile) and 'bear' (tolerate) transparently point toward smiling while enduring something unpleasant, so a learner who knows the words would likely infer the general idea. However, the fixed idiomatic phrasing and the pragmatic nuance of suppressing complaint make the exact sense slightly conventionalized rather than fully predictable, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Grin and bear it paints a picture of someone forcing a smile (grin) while carrying a heavy load or pain (bear). So, it means 'accept something unpleasant without complaining'.