GET A GRIP

Origin:  Late 19^th Century, British English - The expression originally referred only to physical control of someone or something but in the late 1800’s, the definition expanded to emotional and/or intellectual control. A related expression is to lose one’s grip, or control over a situation. “Grip” by itself, goes back to the 13^th century

Usage: Informal, spoken American English

Idiomatic Meaning: Get emotions under control; gain an understanding; regain contact with reality.

Literal Meaning: In the literal sense only the actual physical seizing or holding onto counts. It’s telling someone to hold on to something with their hands, as hard as they can.

Why is this funny? In the cartoon we see a bear hanging from the Roman Rings. He claims he could hang there all day, ostensibly because he has a good strong grip on the rings. The question is, it he being realistic or delusional? The judges and the audience think he’s losing his grip and is ready to fall. He needs to “get a grip” and realize that he’s losing his grip (on the rings and perhaps reality).

Sample sentence: Oh get a grip! Just because she won’t marry you, it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world.