Definition of: "come to grief" with explanation and origin
Definition of: come to grief with explanation and origin? Meaning of come to grief with examples in English idiom dictionary.
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Definition of: "come to grief" with explanation and origin
come to grief
come to grief
Meaning
- to have an accident or suffer disaster.
- the failure of something.
- to experience misfortune or failure.
- to end in disaster.
- to be destroyed and ruined.
- to foretell tragedy.
Examples in Sentences
- Their relationship came to grief following their disastrous vacation.
- His attempts at creating a business came to grief following a bad investment.
- The ship and its crew came to grief after running aground several miles offshore.
- Her entire family felt that she would come to grief if she pushed the idea of marriage too quickly.
- It would be a great pity to see all that sincere work come to grief.
Origin
The etymology of this idiom is difficult to ascertain, but it does appear that the many phrases that have made use of it might have come by way of a general consensus, as “come to grief” was at one time one of the common idioms. This idiom is still one that carries a deep and emotional meaning for native English speakers, though it might be difficult for ESL students to comprehend. The meaning of this idiom became a common locution in the 19th century as many began to find a use for it in speech, writing, and various forms of entertainment. As of today, it is still a popular idiom for those who enjoy using it for the sake of prose.
The Origins of come to grief
Failure, Luck, ProblemEnglish
Related Dictionary
- English Definition & Meaning Dictionary
- English Idioms and phrases Dictionary
- Dictionnaire Français
- Dictionnaire d'expressions idiomatiques et de phrases en français
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English Idioms and phrases
An idiom is a common word or phrase with a figurative, non-literal meaning that is understood culturally and differs from what its composite words' denotations would suggest; i.e. the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words (although some idioms do retain their literal meanings – see the example "kick the bucket" below). By another definition, an idiom is a speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements.[3] For example, an English speaker would understand the phrase "kick the bucket" to mean "to die" – and also to actually kick a bucket. Furthermore, they would understand when each meaning is being used in context.
To evoke the desired effect in the listener, idioms require a precise replication of the phrase: not even articles can be used interchangeably (e.g. "kick a bucket" only retains the literal meaning of the phrase but not the idiomatic meaning).
Idioms should not be confused with other figures of speech such as metaphors, which evoke an image by use of implicit comparisons (e.g., "the man of steel"); similes, which evoke an image by use of explicit comparisons (e.g., "faster than a speeding bullet"); or hyperbole, which exaggerates an image beyond truthfulness (e.g., "more powerful than a locomotive"). Idioms are also not to be confused with proverbs, which are simple sayings that express a truth based on common sense or practical experience.
