grit one's teeth

idiom

1
: to press or rub the teeth together
He gritted his teeth in anger/pain.
2
: to show courage and determination when dealing with problems or challenges
Starting your own business can be very tough, but you just have to grit your teeth and keep working at it.

Dictionary Entries Near grit one's teeth

Cite this Entry

“Grit one's teeth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grit%20one%27s%20teeth. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!