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.
Cite this Entry
“Grit one's teeth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grit%20one%27s%20teeth. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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