gritty

Everyday

1. Gritty means full of tiny hard bits like sand or small stones. tree →
2. A gritty person is brave and determined and does not give up when things are hard. tree →
3. A gritty story or film shows life in a hard, realistic way, including poverty, crime or difficult times. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons it describes textures of soils and rocks; in PE and life lessons «grit» means perseverance. Phrases: «gritty sand», «a gritty performance», «a gritty drama», «true grit».

Examples

• The spinach was gritty because it wasn't washed. tree →
• The path was gritty with sand. tree →
• The team gave a gritty performance and won in the end. tree →
• She is gritty and never gives up. tree →
• The film is a gritty story about life in a poor town. tree →
• My shoes felt gritty after the beach. tree →
• Gritty determination helped him finish the race. tree →
• Rub the gritty paper on the wood to make it smooth. tree →

Note

Comparative grittier, superlative grittiest. Grit also means sand put on icy roads in the UK (a gritter lorry spreads it). «Grit your teeth» means hold on through something hard.