{
    "term": "grip",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "c1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "an act of holding somebody/something tightly; a particular way of doing this",
            "sensetop": "grip (on somebody/something)",
            "labels": "(figurative)",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Keep a tight grip on the rope."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **loosen/release/relax your grip**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She tried to **get a grip on** the icy rock."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The climber slipped and **lost her grip**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She struggled from his grip."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Try adjusting your grip on the racket."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He finally broke her grip and escaped."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He still had a firm grip on my arm."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her upper arms were seized in an iron grip."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His grip slackened and she tore herself away."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Hold the microphone in a firm grip."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Keep a secure grip on the rope at all times."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Robert tightened his grip on the steering wheel."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She relaxed her grip on the door frame."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She slipped and lost her grip of the rope."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Taking a tight grip on the hook, he began to pull it closer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Winter still held them in its iron grip."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "grasp",
            "topics": ["Sports: ball and racket sports"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["firm", "good", "secure"],
                "verb + grip": ["have", "get", "take"],
                "grip + verb": ["tighten", "loosen", "relax"],
                "preposition": ["in a/​somebody’s grip", "grip on"],
                "phrases": ["break somebody’s grip"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "control or power over somebody/something",
            "sensetop": "grip (on somebody/something)",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The home team took a firm grip on the game."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We need to tighten the grip we have on the market."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The Prime Minister needs to keep a tight grip on his party."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We need to keep a tight grip on costs."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They managed to strengthen their grip on the southern part of the country."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The Church does not have a strong grip on the population."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["firm", "iron", "powerful"],
                "verb + grip": ["have", "get", "take"],
                "preposition": ["in something’s grip", "grip on"],
                "phrases": [
                    "come to grips with something",
                    "get to grips with something"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "an understanding of something",
            "sensetop": "grip (on something)",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I couldn't get a grip on what was going on."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You need to keep a good grip on reality in this job."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government does not seem to have a very firm grip on the economy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has a tenuous grip on reality."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "grasp"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "the ability of something to move over a surface without slipping",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "These tyres give the bus better grip in slippery conditions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This type of sole gives a good grip on snow and ice."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "a part of something that has a special surface so that it can be held without the hands slipping",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the grip on a golf club"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "a small thin piece of metal or plastic folded in the middle, used by women for holding their hair in place",
            "labels": "(both British English)North American English",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "a person who prepares and moves the cameras, and sometimes the lighting equipment, when a film is being made",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Film and theatre"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "a large soft bag, used when travelling",
            "labels": "(old-fashioned)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to begin to understand and deal with something difficult",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I'm slowly getting to grips with the language."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They have so far failed to come to grips with the ecological problems."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to improve your behaviour or control your emotions after being afraid, upset or angry",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I have to take a grip on myself, he told himself firmly."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**Get a grip**! *(= make an effort to control your emotions)*"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "experiencing something unpleasant that cannot be stopped",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a country in the grip of recession"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to become unable to understand or control a situation",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Sometimes I feel I'm losing my grip."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɡrɪp/",
                "audio": "gr/grip/grip__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɡrɪp/",
                "audio": "gr/grip/grip__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English grippa (verb), gripe ‘grasp, clutch’ (noun), gripa ‘handful, sheath’; related to gripe."
}