gritting one's teeth
Clenching through pain
Gritting one's teeth is clenching the jaw tightly, pressing the upper and lower teeth together.
The literal action occurs during physical strain, pain, or intense concentration.
More often the phrase is figurative, describing the determination to endure something unpleasant or difficult: She gritted her teeth and finished the marathon despite her injury.
To grit one's teeth and bear it means to accept hardship without complaint.
- copingManaging under strain
- bearing downApplying forceful pressure
- clenchingSqueezing tightly shut
- grimacingDistorting face unpleasantly
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
grinding · tightening · willpower · stiffening · stiff upper lip · adapting · bracing · tensing · courage · stoicism · grit · biting down · persistence · patience · sucking it up · enduring · self-control · focus
gritting one's teethbreaking down
Stopping working properly
bursting into tears · crying out · venting · sobbing · wailing
gritting one's teethgiving up
Choosing to stop trying
surrendering · throwing in the towel · giving in · capitulating · quitting
gritting one's teethrelaxing
Becoming less tense
unclenching · loosening up · decompressing · unwinding · exhaling
grits, gritty, grittiness, gritted, oneself, teeth, toothed, toothy, toothless