grouch
/ɡraʊtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡraʊtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgrau̇ch/ (ame, mw)
grouch — verb
- grouchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- grouches3rd person singular
- grouching-ing form
- grouchedpast simple
1. to complain in an angry, irritable way, especially about small, unimportant thin
to complain in an angry, irritable way, especially about small, unimportant things such as the weather, other people's habits, or daily inconveniences
Dad grouched about the slow traffic all the way to the airport.
grouch + about + noun phrase
Old Mrs. Kim grouched that the heating was never turned up high enough.
grouch + that-clause
The children ignored their uncle, who was grouching about the price of train tickets again.
"Stop grouching and eat your breakfast," his wife said with a sigh.
- praise
express approval rather than irritation
- appreciate
focus on what is good instead of small faults
文法句型
grouch + about + noun / -ing form
grouch + that-clause
用法筆記
Frequently used in progressive tenses or imperatives. Subject is almost always a person expressing irritation about routine annoyances rather than serious problems. Common in everyday spoken English.
常見錯誤
grouch — noun
- grouchsingular
- grouchesplural
1. a person who is habitually in a bad mood or complains often, especially about mi
a person who is habitually in a bad mood or complains often, especially about minor things that others would not mind
Uncle Boris is such a grouch that nobody invites him to family dinners anymore.
such a grouch + result clause
Don't be such a grouch — the park looks beautiful in the sunshine!
imperative: don't be such a grouch
The office grouch sat alone in the canteen, scowling at everyone who walked past.
Even the biggest grouch in our team smiled when the project won an award.
- grumbler
slightly more formal; emphasises the act of grumbling rather than the bad mood
- complainer
neutral and common; less colourful than grouch
- sourpuss
informal, milder, often used playfully
- optimist
someone who looks on the bright side
- jolly person
someone always in a good mood
文法句型
a grouch
such a grouch
an old grouch
用法筆記
Often preceded by an adjective (old grouch, biggest grouch) or used in a negative imperative (Don't be such a grouch). The noun describes a personality trait, not a temporary mood — calling someone a grouch suggests they are frequently unpleasant.
常見錯誤
2. a complaint or reason for dissatisfaction, typically about something small or no
a complaint or reason for dissatisfaction, typically about something small or not very serious
His only grouch about the hotel was that the pillows were too soft.
someone's only / main grouch about
I have one small grouch with this plan — the meeting starts far too early.
have a grouch with [something]
The Watanabe family listed their grouches calmly until the manager agreed to listen.
Despite his many grouches about the city, Diego admitted he loved living there.
- praise
expression of approval
- compliment
positive feedback
文法句型
have a grouch about / with
someone's main / only grouch
用法筆記
Less common than the 'person' sense. Used in both singular and plural, but usually preceded by a modifier (only grouch, main grouch, one small grouch). The complaint is presented as something the speaker acknowledges is minor.