grip

Universal Words noun, verb noun holding tightly 1 [C,usually sing.] ~ (on sb/sth) an act of holding sb/sth tightly; a particular way of doing this: Keep a tight grip on the rope. * to loosen / release / relax your grip * She tried to get a grip on the icy rock. * The climber slipped and lost her grip. * She struggled from his grip. * Try adjusting your grip on the racket. control / power 2 [sing.] ~ (on sb/sth) control or power over sb/sth: The home team took a firm grip on the game in the second half. * Our main objective now is to tighten the grip we have on the market. * The Prime Minister needs to keep a tight grip on his party. understanding 3 [sing.] ~ (on sth) an understanding of sth: I couldn't get a grip on what was going on. * You need to keep a good grip on reality in this job. moving without slipping 4 [U] the ability of sth to move over a surface without slipping: These tyres give the bus better grip in slippery conditions. * This type of sole gives good grip on snow and ice. stops hands slipping 5 [C] a part of sth that has a special surface so that it can be held without the hands slipping: the grip on a golf club * a rubber / plastic grip for hair 6 [C] (BrE) = HAIRGRIP job in the movies 7 [C] a person who prepares and moves the cameras, and sometimes the lighting equipment, when a film/movie is being made bag 8 [C] (old-fashioned) a large soft bag, used when travelling IDIOMS come / get to grips with sth to begin to understand and deal with sth difficult: I'm slowly getting to grips with the language * They have so far failed to come to grips with the ecological problems. get / take a grip (on yourself) to improve your behaviour or control your emotions after being afraid, upset or angry: I have to take a grip on myself, he told himself firmly. * (informal) Get a grip (= make an effort to control your emotions)! in the grip of sth experiencing sth unpleasant that cannot be stopped: a country in the grip of recession lose your grip (on sth) to become unable to understand or control a situation: Sometimes I feel I'm losing my grip. verb (-pp-) hold tightly 1 to hold sth tightly: [VN] 'Please don't go,' he said, gripping her arm. * [V] She gripped on to the railing with both hands. interest / excite 2 [VN] to interest or excite sb; to hold sb's attention: The book grips you from start to finish. * I was totally gripped by the story. seealsoGRIPPING have powerful effect 3 [VN] (of an emotion or a situation) to have a powerful effect on sb/sth: I was gripped by a feeling of panic. * A sudden fear gripped me. * Terrorism has gripped the country for the past two years. move / hold without slipping 4 to hold onto or to move over a surface without slipping: [VN] tyres that grip the road [also V]