to grumble about
6
4.1
- phrasal verb
- /ˈɡrʌm.bəl əˈbaʊt/
:
quejarse de
- During the meeting, she couldn't help but grumble about the lack of communication from management.
Whether they get lost in the optics and it all looking perfect or their passive aggressive grumbling about a what a waste of time and money it is.
- Whether they get lost in the optics and it all looking perfect or their passive aggressive grumbling about a what a waste of time and money it is.
Examples
-
As the project proceeds, everyone grumbles about Option 2, but is at least glad it wasn't Option 3.
Blog text (15) -
If there was any grumbling about it, I didn't hear it.
Blog text (20) -
There is a great deal of grumbling about the consequences, especially the impact on parking.
Academic text (2000) -
Providers themselves grumble about managed care.
Academic text (1997) -
No wonder civilians are grumbling about the Army.
-
These sailors have something to grumble about.
-
We know that gas prices have risen, and we grumble about those.
Blog text (28) -
Recently a guy came up to me and was grumbling about all the problems, the troubles, the difficulties that he was going through.
-
After that, she sometimes grumbles about it, saying, 'I can't understand it after all.'
Academic text (2018) -
While Tetouanis appreciate the symbolism of this gesture, many grumble about the pressures the king's presence has put on the center of the city.
Academic text (2009)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To say you are unhappy about something and want it changed
211
2.8
To complain in a high, annoying voice
177
1.0
To make a low, long sound to show pain, discomfort, or displeasure
140
3.7
To speak quietly so others cannot hear, often to complain
41
3.7
To complain quietly in a low voice
38
5.6
To complain repeatedly about small things
30
6.6
To keep complaining about something in a way that annoys people
8
7.4
To complain about small unimportant things
8
9.6
To complain a lot in an annoying way
7
6.0
To complain loudly in a way that annoys other people
5
8.1
To complain in an annoying way about small things
4
6.3
To make quiet complaining sounds under your breath
4
9.9
To complain a lot about small things and annoy others
1
4.1
Make a low sound or complain to show you are annoyed at something
1
4.9
To complain when you are in a bad mood
1
6.8
To complain a lot in an annoying way
1
6.4
To complain in a bad-tempered way
1
7.3
To complain in a small, repeated way
To mutter complaints quietly so others cannot hear
To complain quietly because you are unhappy
To complain in a sulky, childish way about small things
To complain about something in a casual way
To express a complaint or concern, often publicly
Antonyms
How Strong
40
3.6
- Informal
70
4.8
6
4.1
∞
1.0
- Archaic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'grumble' means to complain softly and 'about' introduces the topic, so a learner who knows both words can infer 'to complain about X'. This verb + preposition pattern is common across languages and follows standard English composition, making the expression immediately understandable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Grumble about comes from the image of a low, rolling sound—like a stomach or distant thunder—people make when they complain quietly. So, when someone grumbles about something you imagine them muttering their complaints under their breath, which is why it means 'to complain'.