gnash — [nash] vt. [Early ModE for earlier gnast < ME gnasten, prob. < ON gnīsta, to gnash (the teeth), gnastan, to gnash, prob. > IE * ghnei < base * ghen > GNAW] 1. to grind or strike (the teeth) together, as in anger or pain 2. to bite… … English World dictionary
gnash your teeth — gnash (your) teeth to show you are angry or annoyed about something bad that you cannot do anything to stop. His advisers are gnashing their teeth in frustration because he refuses to attack his opponent on foreign policy issues. Usage notes:… … New idioms dictionary
gnash — [næʃ] v [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: Probably from the sound] gnash your teeth to be very angry or unhappy about something, or to move your teeth against each other so that they make a noise, especially because you are unhappy or angry … Dictionary of contemporary English
gnash — [ næʃ ] verb gnash your teeth OFTEN HUMOROUS 1. ) to protest about something in an angry way 2. ) to bite your teeth together and from side to side because you are very angry … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
Gnash — Gnash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gnashed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Gnashing}.] [OE. gnasten, gnaisten, cf. Icel. gnastan a gnashing, gn?sta to gnash, Dan.knaske, Sw. gnissla, D. knarsen, G. knirschen.] To strike together, as in anger or pain; as, to gnash… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
gnash — ► VERB ▪ grind (one s teeth) together, especially as a sign of anger. ORIGIN perhaps related to a Old Norse word meaning a gnashing of teeth … English terms dictionary
Gnash — Gnash, v. i. To grind or strike the teeth together. [1913 Webster] There they him laid, Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame. Milton. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
gnash — early 15c., variant of M.E. gnasten to gnash the teeth (c.1300), perhaps from O.N. gnastan a gnashing, of unknown origin, probably imitative. Cf. Ger. knistern to crackle. Related: Gnashed; gnashing … Etymology dictionary
gnash — /næʃ / (say nash) verb (t) 1. to grind (the teeth) together, especially in rage or pain: *The animal, insulted, expired on top of the trap, gnashing its teeth at the indignity of its death. –eve langley, 1958. 2. to bite with grinding teeth.… …
gnash — gnashingly, adv. /nash/, v.t. 1. to grind or strike (the teeth) together, esp. in rage or pain. 2. to bite with grinding teeth. v.i. 3. to gnash the teeth. n. 4. an act of gnashing. [1490 1500; var. of obs. gnast, ME gnasten; cf. ON gnastan… … Universalium
