grilling
grilling — noun
- grillingsingular
- grillingsplural
1. a situation in which a person is asked many hard questions, often by officials o
a situation in which a person is asked many hard questions, often by officials or people in authority who want detailed answers
After the bank robbery, Sana faced a three-hour grilling from the police detectives.
collocation: face + a grilling (intense questioning)
The new minister survived a tough grilling in Parliament about the government's tax plans.
Harper needed a glass of water after her intense grilling by the interview panel.
passive structure: grilling by [someone]
Yara prepared all weekend for the grilling she would get from her university supervisors.
collocation: get + a grilling
- face a grilling
- get a grilling
- survive a grilling
- tough grilling
- interrogation
stronger and more formal; usually refers to police or military questioning
- cross-examination
specific to courtroom or formal debate settings
- questioning
more general and less intense than grilling
Grammar Patterns
face + a grilling
get + a grilling
survive + a grilling
Usage Note
Frequently paired with verbs like 'face', 'get', 'receive', or 'survive'. Often describes an official setting such as a police station, courtroom, or committee meeting.
Common Mistakes
2. a time when someone tells you very firmly that what you did was wrong or not goo
a time when someone tells you very firmly that what you did was wrong or not good enough
Dario got a real grilling from his coach after missing three important training sessions.
collocation: get + a grilling (receiving criticism)
The restaurant manager faced a grilling from customers who found insects in their food.
collocation: face + a grilling (criticism context)
Valentina received a grilling from her classmates for not helping with the group project.
The whole team got a harsh grilling from the directors after the failed product launch.
- get a grilling
- receive a grilling
- give someone a grilling
- harsh grilling
- dressing-down
more informal; usually from a boss or parent
- reprimand
more formal; often official or written
- scolding
milder; often used with children
- praise
expression of approval instead of criticism
Grammar Patterns
get + a grilling
receive + a grilling
give + someone + a grilling
Usage Note
Unlike INTENSE QUESTIONING, this sense focuses on blame or disapproval rather than a search for information. The person giving the grilling usually holds a position of authority.
Common Mistakes
grilling — verb
- grillingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- grillings3rd person singular
- grillinging-ing form
- grillingedpast simple
1. to cook food such as meat, fish, or vegetables on a metal frame placed above a f
to cook food such as meat, fish, or vegetables on a metal frame placed above a fire or hot coals
Sana is grilling chicken and vegetables for the family dinner this Saturday.
transitive: grill + food items
The chef was grilling fresh fish on the outdoor barbecue when it started to rain.
Esme stood outside grilling burgers while her younger brother set up the chairs.
intransitive use with object implied
Inês learned how to grill steak properly by watching online cooking videos.
The Hassan family were grilling corn on the cob and sausages at the beach picnic.
transitive use: grill + multiple food items at [location]
- grill chicken
- grill steak
- grill fish
- grill vegetables
- grill on a barbecue
Grammar Patterns
grill + noun phrase (food)
grill + on + surface
grill + for + time period
Usage Note
Can be used transitively (grill + food) or intransitively (We grilled all afternoon). In American English, 'broil' refers to cooking under direct heat inside an oven, while 'grill' means cooking on an outdoor grate over fire.
Common Mistakes
2. to make someone feel extremely uncomfortable or suffer because of very strong he
to make someone feel extremely uncomfortable or suffer because of very strong heat, especially from the sun
The blazing sun was grilling the construction workers all afternoon with no shade.
figurative use: sun + grilling + person (heat torment)
Without air conditioning, the summer heat grilled everyone inside the small apartment.
The desert sun grilled the hikers as they crossed the wide, open valley.
João felt like the midday sun was grilling him through the car windscreen.
feels like / as if + being grilled (figurative perception)
- sun grills
- heat grills
- be grilled by the sun
Grammar Patterns
be grilled + by + noun phrase (heat source)
Usage Note
This figurative sense extends the cooking image to describe uncomfortable heat. The subject is almost always the sun or intense heat. Commonly used in the continuous form or passive voice.
Common Mistakes
3. to ask someone a lot of difficult questions one after another, usually for a lon
to ask someone a lot of difficult questions one after another, usually for a long period
The lawyers grilled Yan for almost three hours about what he saw that night.
grammar pattern: grill + person + about + topic
Amani was grilled by customs officers about the large amount of cash in her bag.
passive: be grilled by [authority]
The journalist grilled the company director about where the charity money had gone.
Nicholas grilled his sister for an hour about who had borrowed his bicycle.
grill + person + for + duration
The committee grilled each candidate about their plans for improving local schools.
- grill someone about something
- grill someone for hours
- be grilled by
- interrogate
more formal and official; suggests coercion
- cross-examine
specific to legal or formal questioning
- question
more neutral and less intense
Grammar Patterns
grill + noun phrase (person)
grill + noun phrase + about + topic
Usage Note
More forceful and repetitive than simply 'asking questions'. The questioning is relentless and usually happens in a formal or confrontational setting such as a police station, interview, or committee.
Common Mistakes
Etymology
First known use
1672
1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun