This book will guide you through all these points, with plenty of easily grasped examples
verb /ɡræsp/
1
to take and hold something firmly SYN grip [grip = verb /ɡrɪp/, to hold something very tightly]
to take and hold (something) with your fingers, hands, etc.
to take a firm hold of sb/sth. SYN grip.
to quickly take something in your hand(s) and hold it firmly.
to take and hold something or someone very tightly.
If you grasp something, you take it in your hand and hold it very firmly.
I grasped his arm firmly and led him away.
Alan grasped the handle and pulled it.
I grasped the end of the rope and pulled as hard as I could.
I grasped the rope by its end.
His arthritis is so bad he can barely grasp a pencil.
- often used figuratively
We need to grasp [=seize] this opportunity while we can.
He grasped my hand and shook it warmly.
Kay grasped him by the wrist.
Rosie suddenly grasped my hand.
She grasped his hand and pulled him towards her.
grasp someone by the shoulders/arm/wrist etc
He grasped her firmly by the shoulders.
He grasped both my hands.
She was trying to grasp at something.
2
to completely understand a fact or an idea, especially a complicated one.
to understand (something that is complicated or difficult)
to understand sth completely.
to understand something, especially something difficult.
to understand something.
If you grasp something that is complicated or difficult to understand, you understand it.
At that time, we did not fully grasp the significance of what had happened.
Some people find the idea of relativity difficult to grasp.
grasp what/how etc
A short opening paragraph enables the reader to quickly grasp what the article is about.
grasp that
Nick had grasped that something was wrong.
They failed to grasp [=comprehend] the importance of talking to their children about the dangers of taking drugs. [comprehend = verb /ˌkɑmprɪ'hɛnd/, to understand something that is complicated or difficult SYN understand, grasp → comprehension]
They don't (fully) grasp the implications of these changes.
They failed to grasp the importance of his words.
She was unable to grasp how to do it.
It took him some time to grasp that he was now a public figure.
I think I managed to grasp the main points of the lecture.
The Government has acknowledged that homelessness is a problem but it has failed to grasp the scale of the problem.
He was finding it difficult to grasp the rules of the game.
grasp the meaning/significance of something
You should try to grasp the meaning of whole sentences.
grasp a concept/principle/point
Charlie grasped the point at once.
The Government has not yet grasped the seriousness of the crisis.
He instantly grasped that Stephen was talking about his wife.
3
grasp an opportunity
grasp a chance
to eagerly and quickly use an opportunity to do something.
to take an opportunity without hesitating and use it.
If you grasp an opportunity, you take it eagerly.
to take advantage of an opportunity when it happens.
She is ready to grasp any opportunity to expand the business.
I grasped the opportunity to work abroad.
We must grasp every opportunity to strengthen economic ties with other countries.
We must grasp every opportunity if we are going to succeed.
He had failed to grasp his one chance of happiness.
4
grasp the nettle (British English) [nettle (also stinging nettle) = /'nɛtl/ noun, a wild plant with rough leaves that sting you] [sting = verb /stɪŋ/ (past tense and past participle stung /stʌŋ/), if an insect or a plant stings you, it makes a very small hole in your skin and you feel a sharp pain because of a poisonous substance]
to deal with an unpleasant situation firmly and without delay.
to deal with an unpleasant situation without delay.
to deal with a difficult situation firmly and without hesitating.
to force yourself to be brave and do something that is difficult or unpleasant.
to deal with a complicated problem that will probably be very difficult, and may cause political or other problems.
We need to grasp the nettle of prison reform.
He decided to grasp the nettle and try to solve the problem himself.
The government now has the opportunity to grasp the nettle of prison reform.
You've been putting off making that phone call for days - I think it's about time you grasped the nettle!
We’ve got to grasp the nettle of prison reform.
5
grasp at phrasal verb
grasp at something
to try to hold on to something.
to try to take or get (something) in an eager or desperate way.
to try to take hold of sth in your hands.
to try to take an opportunity
to try to take an opportunity.
to try to hold or touch something.
to try to take hold of something.
to try and take the opportunity to do something.
His foot slipped and he grasped at the top of the wall. [slip = verb /slɪp/,to slide a short distance accidentally, and fall or lose your balance slightly] [slide = verb /slaɪd/, to move smoothly over a surface while continuing to touch it, or to make something move in this way]
They were ready to grasp at any possible solution.
He grasped at the opportunity to speak with her.
She grasped at his coat as he rushed past her.
Certainly if the job were offered me I'd grasp at the chance.
She grasped at his shirt as he ran past.
Hands were grasping at his coat as he walked past.
She was grasping at the chance to escape her problems.
grasp at straws [straw = noun /strɔ/, the dried stems of wheat or similar plants that animals sleep on, and that are used for making things such as baskets, hats etc → hay /he/]
clutch at straws [clutch = verb /klʌtʃ/, to hold something tightly because you do not want to lose it SYN grip, grasp]
to try to solve a problem by doing things that probably will not help.
to try all possible means to find a solution or some hope in a difficult or unpleasant situation, even though this seems very unlikely.
I asked her for a loan. I didn't think she'd agree, but at that point I was grasping at straws.
I know I'm just clutching at straws here, but is it possible that the doctors are wrong?
graspable adjective
an easily graspable idea
noun /ɡræsp/
1
the way you hold something or your ability to hold it SYN grip [grip = noun /ɡrɪp/, the way you hold something tightly, or your ability to do this]
a usually strong hold.
a firm hold of sb/sth or control over sb/sth SYN grip.
when you hold onto someone or something.
a very tight hold of someone or something.
A grasp is a very firm hold or grip.
Luke took her arm in a firm grasp and led her through the gate.
He had allowed the ball to slip from his grasp.
I kept a firm grasp on the rope. [=I held the rope firmly with my hand]
The ball slipped/fell from her grasp. [=she dropped the ball]
I grabbed him, but he slipped from my grasp.
She felt a firm grasp on her arm.
Don't let the situation escape from your grasp.
As soon as he relaxed his grasp on the rope, it was pulled out of his hands.
As the drugs took hold, her grasp of reality began to slip slowly away.
He shook my hand with a very firm grasp.
Suddenly he broke free from her grasp.
His hand was taken in a warm, firm grasp.
2
your ability to understand a complicated idea, situation, or subject SYN understanding.
an understanding of something.
a person's understanding of a subject or of difficult facts.
(only singular or uncountable) understanding.
the ability to understand something.
A grasp of something is an understanding of it.
grasp of
Her grasp of the issues was impressive.
a good/firm/thorough etc grasp of something
Steve has a good grasp of the European legal system.
grasp on
After two months, his grasp on the subject was improving.
She has a good/firm/thorough grasp of mathematics. [=she understands mathematics well]
The author shows a weak/feeble/shaky grasp of military strategy. [feeble = adjective /'fibl/, extremely weak OPP strong]
His motives are beyond my grasp. [=I can't understand his motives]
We're still trying to get a grasp on[=to gain a good understanding of] the situation.
He has a good grasp of German grammar.
These complex formulae are beyond the grasp of the average pupil.
I'm afraid my grasp of economics is rather limited.
have/get a grasp of something
The government has no grasp of their suffering.
a good/firm/poor grasp of something
She has a good grasp of English.
be beyond someone’s grasp(=be impossible for someone to understand)
The tasks were beyond the intellectual grasp of many pupils.
They have a good grasp of foreign languages.
3
your ability to achieve or gain something.
the ability to get or find something.
the distance that can be reached by your arms and hands : ↑REACH
the ability to get or achieve sth.
the ability to get, achieve or keep something.
the ability to achieve something.
If you say that something is within someone's grasp, you mean that it is very likely that they will achieve it.
within somebody’s grasp
An agreement to end the war seemed within their grasp.
beyond somebody’s grasp
Many families are finding suitable housing beyond their grasp.
Success is almost within our grasp. [=we are very close to success]
She felt the solution was within her grasp.
The books on the top shelf are just beyond my grasp.
She moved the toy to within the baby's grasp.
He tried to grab the rolling ball, but it eluded his grasp. [=he could not reach it] [elude = verb /ɪˈlud/, 1). to escape from someone or something, especially by tricking them SYN avoid. 2). if something that you want eludes you, you fail to find or achieve it. 3). if a fact or the answer to a problem eludes you, you cannot remember or solve it SYN escape]
Success was within her grasp.
The presidency at last looked within her grasp (= It looked possible that she might become president).
Why is success always beyond my grasp (= impossible to get)?
The gold medal slipped from his grasp (= He was unable to get it) in the last moments of the race.
I sometimes think that he's losing his grasp on reality (= his ability to judge what is real and what is not).
within/in someone’s grasp
Victory was now within their grasp.
beyond/out of someone’s grasp
Peace was not completely beyond his grasp.
slip from someone’s grasp(=become impossible for someone to achieve)
Just when the game seemed to be slipping from their grasp, they scored a vital goal.
Peace is now within our grasp.
4
control or power.
power or control.
power that someone has over someone or something.
If you say that something is in someone's grasp, you disapprove of the fact that they possess or control it. If something slips from your grasp, you lose it or lose control of it.
The king was determined not to let Scotland slip from his grasp.
The land was in the grasp [=grip] of a tyrant /'taɪrənt/.
He had the country in his grasp.
He kept the reins of power firmly in his grasp.
The people in your grasp are not guests, they are hostages.
She allowed victory to slip from her grasp.
the task of liberating a number of states from the grasp of tyrants. [liberate = verb /'lɪbə'ret/, 1). to free someone from feelings or conditions that make their life unhappy or difficult liberate somebody from something. 2). to free prisoners, a city, a country etc from someone’s control]