Come to Grips – Meaning and Examples
Have you ever faced a big change that was hard to accept? It takes time to come to grips with it. This common idiom means to finally accept or understand a difficult situation or idea. Learning come to grips will help you talk about dealing with challenges and reality.
What Does “Come to Grips” Mean?
“Come to grips” means to finally begin to understand and deal with a difficult problem or situation. It involves accepting a reality that is hard to face.
Think of it like this: It is hard to hold onto something slippery. When you finally get a good grip, you can handle it. Similarly, when you come to grips with a problem, you can start to manage it.
Remember, it is not a quick action. It describes a process of mental acceptance over time.
When to Use It
You can use this idiom in serious or emotional situations.
- Personal Challenges: “He is still trying to come to grips with his father’s death.”
- Professional Setbacks: “The company must come to grips with its financial losses.”
- Complex Ideas: “It took me a while to come to grips with the new software.”
The tone is serious and thoughtful. It is used in both informal and formal conversations.
Example Sentences
- She is struggling to come to grips with her new diagnosis.
- The team needs to come to grips with the fact that they lost.
- I finally came to grips with the fact that I needed to find a new job.
- It’s time to come to grips with reality and make a plan.
Mini Dialogue
David: “How is your sister doing after moving to a new city?”
Lisa: “It’s been hard, but I think she’s finally coming to grips with being so far from home.”
David: “That’s good. It takes time to come to grips with such a big change.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The main mistake is using the wrong preposition. The correct phrase is “come to grips WITH,” not “come to grips to” or “come to grips about.”
❌ Don’t say: “I need to come to grips to my new responsibilities.”
✅ Do say: “I need to come to grips with my new responsibilities.”
Practice Tip
Think of a challenge you faced recently. You can write in a journal: “It was difficult, but I came to grips with…” This helps you practice the phrase and its meaning.
Final Note
This is a powerful phrase for talking about personal growth and resilience. It shows that you are facing life’s difficulties with courage. Use it to describe your own journey or to understand others.