grim

grim [ grım ] adjective *

▸ 1 causing worry

▸ 2 serious and unfriendly

▸ 3 not attractive

▸ 4 not enjoyable

▸ 5 sick

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) grim news, situations, or events are unpleasant and make you feel upset and worried:

The future looks pretty grim.

the grim reality of unemployment

2. ) very serious and unfriendly:

His face was set in a grim expression.

a ) angry and pleased about something at the same time:

Exactly what I expected, he said with grim satisfaction.

b ) very determined to do something:

a grim determination to do God's will

3. ) a grim place is ugly and unpleasant:

The house was lonely and rather grim.

4. ) MAINLY BRITISH INFORMAL not very enjoyable, usually because it is of bad quality:

The game was a bit grim.

5. ) INFORMAL sick:

I started to feel grim about an hour after lunch.

hold on like grim death

to hold something very tightly

paint/draw/present a grim picture

to describe a situation in a way that shows how bad it is

╾ grim|ly adverb

╾ grim|ness noun uncount