gripe
/ɡraɪp/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡraɪp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgrīp/ (ame, mw)
gripe — noun
- gripesingular
- gripesplural
1. an informal way of describing something that you keep complaining about, often a
an informal way of describing something that you keep complaining about, often a small problem that bothers you more than it really should.
Theo's main gripe about the new office is that the coffee machine is always broken.
gripe about + noun (the topic of complaint)
My biggest gripe with this phone is the short battery life on long trips.
gripe with + thing (the object causing complaint)
Valentina listened patiently to her father's gripes about the noisy neighbors upstairs.
If you have a gripe with the manager, write it on the feedback form near the door.
Most of the team's gripes were about long meetings and slow internet at work.
- complaint
neutral and the standard word; 'gripe' is more informal and suggests a smaller, repeated annoyance
- grumble
very similar in informality; often a low-voiced muttered complaint rather than a stated one
- beef
even more slangy than 'gripe'; often used in 'have a beef with someone' for a personal dispute
- grievance
more formal; refers to a serious or official complaint, often workplace-related
- compliment
the positive opposite — praise instead of complaint
文法句型
gripe about + noun
have a gripe with someone
用法筆記
Almost always informal and spoken. Typical complement is 'about + topic' or 'with + person/thing'. Often appears in the plural 'gripes' for a list of minor recurring complaints, and is rarely used for serious grievances.
常見錯誤
gripe — verb
- gripepresent simple I / you / we / they
- gripes3rd person singular
- griping-ing form
- gripedpast simple
1. to say repeatedly, in an irritated way, that you are not happy with something, e
to say repeatedly, in an irritated way, that you are not happy with something, especially something small that other people might not care about.
Haruto griped about the long lines at the bank for the entire bus ride home.
gripe about + noun for the topic of complaint
Christopher kept griping that his sister never washed her dishes after dinner.
gripe that + clause (reporting the complaint)
Stop griping and just finish painting the fence before it starts to rain.
The students griped to their teacher about the difficulty of the final exam.
Ziad griped quietly to himself while waiting in the airport for his delayed flight.
- complain
neutral standard verb; 'gripe' adds a tone of low-grade irritability and pettiness
- grumble
very close in meaning; often suggests muttering under the breath rather than openly stating
- moan
British informal; very similar to 'gripe' but more common in UK speech
- whine
stronger negative tone — suggests a high-pitched or childish quality to the complaining
文法句型
gripe about + noun
gripe that + clause
用法筆記
Almost always intransitive and informal; takes 'about + topic' or 'to + listener'. Suggests low-grade, repeated complaining about small things — not a one-time serious objection. The complainer is often portrayed as slightly annoying.