grit your teeth
Brace and persist
To grit your teeth is to clench them tightly together, pressing the jaw closed.
The literal action often accompanies physical strain or pain.
Figuratively, it means to summon determination in the face of something unpleasant: She gritted her teeth and finished the marathon, Just grit your teeth and get through the meeting.
- clenchSqueeze tightly shut
- jawBone holding teeth
- braceDevice providing structural stability
- endureSuffer through without yielding
- grin and bear itEndure hardship without complaint
wince · grimace · tense · bear · bite the bullet · withstand · tough it out · strain · determination · power through · pain · resolve · muscle · bite · enamel · stress · persevere · stiff upper lip
- perseverancepersist, never give up, tenacity, hang in there, endurance
- couragebravery, resilience, fearlessness, boldness, courage
- independencefreedom, liberty, Independence Day, autonomy, sovereignty
grit your teethgive up
Stop attempting something
surrender · quit · throw in the towel · cave in · capitulate
grit your teethrelax
Become less tense
let go · unclench · unwind · take it easy · breathe easy
grit, grits, gritty, grittier, grittiest, grittiness, your, yours, yourself