grim

Everyday

1. Grim means very serious, stern and unsmiling («a grim face»). tree →
2. Grim means unpleasant, worrying or sad («grim news»). tree →
3. A grim place is dark, cold and gloomy. tree →
4. (UK, informal) Grim means horrible or disgusting («The school toilets were grim»). tree →
5. «Hold on like grim death» means to hold very tightly. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, grim faces and grim weather set a dark mood; the «Grim Reaper» is a picture of death in a hooded cloak with a scythe. In the news, «grim» describes bad news like disasters. In everyday UK talk, «that's grim» means yuck.

Examples

• The teacher looked grim when she saw the mess. tree →
• The news about the flood was grim. tree →
• The castle was a grim, grey place. tree →
• The bins smelt grim in the heat. tree →
• He held on to the rope like grim death. tree →
• The weather forecast is grim for the weekend. tree →
• The Grim Reaper is a spooky picture of death. tree →
• The princess stood silent, and her face grew grim. tree →

Note

Comparatives double the m: grimmer, grimmest. Not connected with the Brothers Grimm (a name, spelt with two m). Similar: stern, gloomy, bleak.