gritted one's teeth
Steeled oneself silently
To grit one's teeth is to clench the jaw tightly, pressing upper and lower teeth together.
The literal action occurs during physical strain or pain.
Figuratively, it means to steel oneself and proceed despite difficulty or displeasure: She gritted her teeth and finished the marathon, I gritted my teeth through another tedious meeting.
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- stiff upper lipControlled emotional restraint
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- dug inEstablished a fortified position
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
self-control · held it together · resilience · pushed through · anger · pain · biting down · bearing down · suppression · tenacity · grimace · white-knuckled · resolve · fortitude · inner strength · sucked it up · perseverance · powered through
gritted one's teethgave up
Abandoned an attempt
surrendered · quit · threw in the towel · capitulated · caved in
gritted one's teethlet it all out
Express suppressed emotions freely
vented · poured out one's heart · wore one's heart on one's sleeve · lost control · exploded
grit, grits, gritty, grittiness, grittier, grittiest, ones, oneself, teeth