What it means
Means putting up with something unpleasant without kicking up a fuss, forcing a smile while you quietly suffer through it. The dentist chair, the boring meeting, the in-laws at Christmas, you just grin and bear it and wait for it to pass. Old fashioned stiff upper lip energy that is still going strong.
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."
Where it comes from
An old bit of stiff-upper-lip wisdom: when something is painful or tedious and there is nothing to be done, you put on a grin and bear the discomfort without moaning. The forced smile is half the point, facing the rough patch with a brave face rather than with tears or complaints.
Other ways to say it
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