Pronunciation: /ɡreɪt ɒn/

Definitions of grate on

verb to annoy or irritate someone

Example Sentences

A1 The sound of nails on a chalkboard can grate on your nerves.

A2 Her constant complaining about the weather started to grate on me.

B1 The way he always interrupts people during meetings can grate on their patience.

B2 The repetitive music in the store began to grate on my ears after a while.

C1 His arrogant attitude tends to grate on the nerves of his colleagues.

C2 The constant criticism from her supervisor began to grate on her self-confidence.

preposition used to indicate the action of annoying or irritating someone

Example Sentences

A1 Loud noises from the construction site grate on my nerves.

A2 Her constant complaining about the weather grates on me.

B1 The repetitive music playing in the store started to grate on my patience.

B2 His sarcastic comments began to grate on her sense of humor.

C1 The politician's insincere promises grate on the public's trust.

C2 The lack of progress in the project is starting to grate on the team's morale.

Examples of grate on in a Sentence

formal The constant sound of scraping metal can grate on one's nerves in a manufacturing plant.

informal Her constant complaining really starts to grate on me after a while.

slang His bragging about his new car really grates on my last nerve.

figurative The way she always interrupts people during conversations really grates on my patience.

Grammatical Forms of grate on

past tense

grated

plural

grate on

comparative

more grate on

superlative

most grate on

present tense

grates on

future tense

will grate on

perfect tense

has grated on

continuous tense

is grating on

singular

grates on

positive degree

grate on

infinitive

to grate on

gerund

grating on

participle

grated on

Origin and Evolution of grate on

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Old French
Story behind the word: The phrase 'grate on' originated from the Old French word 'grater' meaning to scrape or scratch.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'grate on' evolved to mean to irritate or annoy someone, reflecting the feeling of friction or abrasion that the original meaning conveyed.