Phrase guide

grin and bear it

verb · 1 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To endure a difficult or disagreeable situation with good humor.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • They made me work the Saturday of our wedding anniversary; what could I say? I just had to grin and bear it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: gøre gode miner til slet spil — endure a difficult or disagreeable situation
  • Finnish: kestää hymyillen — endure a difficult or disagreeable situation
  • French: prendre son mal en patience — endure a difficult or disagreeable situation
  • French: faire bonne mine à mauvais jeu — endure a difficult or disagreeable situation
  • Hungarian: jó képet vág hozzá — endure a difficult or disagreeable situation
  • Italian: fare buon viso a cattivo gioco — endure a difficult or disagreeable situation
  • Polish: robić dobrą minę do złej gry — endure a difficult or disagreeable situation
  • Polish: zrobić dobrą minę do złej gry — endure a difficult or disagreeable situation
  • Romanian: face haz de necaz — endure a difficult or disagreeable situation