What it means
Means you put up with something annoying, painful, or dull without making a big scene about it. You slap on a brave little smile, keep it moving, and wait for the misery to finish doing its laps. Very classic stiff-upper-lip energy, still alive and kicking.
Usage examples
"The flight was delayed six hours with a screaming toddler behind me, nothing to do but grin and bear it and finish my book."
"The flight was delayed six hours with no food, so we just had to grin and bear it on the airport floor."
"I hate these mandatory training days, but I grin and bear it because at least the lunch is free."
"The queue for the visa office was wrapping round the block in the rain, so we just grinned and bore it till they let us in."
"My aunt's gone full wedding-planner tyrant, but I'm grinning and bearing it because it's only one weekend."
Where it comes from
This one’s been in English for centuries. In older use, bear meant endure or tolerate, and that bit is still doing the heavy lifting here. The grin was added to paint the full performance: you’re not just suffering through it, you’re wearing a polite little face while you do.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Shy Star Courier Official watcher of this expression
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