Phrase guide

give someone grief

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To cause pain to someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Her elbow has been giving her grief.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hurt, trouble, ache, afflict, aggrieve, agonize, anguish, dere, excruciate, irritate, pang, pine, rack, throe, torment, torture, wring

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To hassle or abuse someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Fred was giving me grief over the money I owed him.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bother, harass, pester, trouble, badger, bait, bedevil, beleaguer, persecute, dog, besiege, bug, devil, beset, chevy, give someone grief, harry, hound, pick at, plague, vex

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.