grist to the mill

grist to the mill

A useful resource in a particular situation. If my detractors hear about this blunder, it will just be grist to the mill.
See also: grist, mill
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

grist to the mill

experience, material, or knowledge which can be turned to good use.
Grist in the sense of ‘corn that is to be ground’ is now used only in this phrase and in the proverb all is grist that comes to the mill . The word is related to Old Saxon gristgrimmo meaning ‘gnashing of teeth’.
See also: grist, mill
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • grist for
  • mill
  • gin mill
  • palace
  • water to (one's) mill
  • no doubt
  • water
  • put (one) through the mill
  • run of the mill
  • run-of-the-mill
References in periodicals archive
Not a disaster, as every twist and turn in Susan's life is grist to the mill, but Simon's ever-so-perfect gnashers will be grinding away.
The Talent soap opera is set to run and run..
A nod here, a wink there, possible links to the assassination of John Kennedy in 1963 - all grist to the mill of the conspiracy theorists.
OBITUARY
But although not carrying the same sort of prestige in the greyhound world, the double is grist to the mill for this hugely successful dam line, whose members include Dee Lady's half-brother He Knows (Slaneyside Hare-I Know You) and I Know You's litter-brother Ballinderry Ash.
Breeding Lines: `Maiden' Ben beats the odds to land a vintage National success
Unfortunately, such expeditions as the one about to be undertaken by the French only adds grist to the mill for club chairmen who are looking to palm off all insurance costs onto football associations.
Francs a bunch, says boss Wenger
The dual aim of the visit was to persuade Israel to adopt a responsible attitude in the continuation of the peace process (offering in exchange permission for the country to take part in the EU's 5th Framework Programme of R & D), and to sound out Mr Arafat on his willingness to refrain from making a unilateral declaration of independence, on May 4, (so as to avoid an escalation in tension that would be grist to the mill of the peace process opponents shortly before the Israeli general election on May 17).
EU/MIDDLE EAST: EU CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE PROCESS
Threats of being sued go with the territory and so the letter from London legal firm Joelson Wilson was grist to the mill.
CHARITY TRIES TO USE FORCE
It's all grist to the mill for Sam Perry and his fellow Shrewsbury House Archive Team who are committed to recording the way it was and the way it is.
Everton now and then; Ken Rogers on a group cataloguing a community which has undergone massive change
All grist to the mill of those arguing for the UK to leave the EU.
The EU - the good, the bad and the ugly; EURO VIEW with Hume Hargreave
THE fact Cardiff Bay is talking about possible reforms to the way the National Assembly is being elected will be further grist to the mill for those who think it's obsessed with navel-gazing - but it doesn't mean its repercussions aren't important.
SECONDGLANCE
From a mortgage perspective this is just more grist to the mill of keeping interest rates low.
How low can you go?
The city's impersonality matched with its inspiring architecture, lends more grist to the mill.
Pastel art brings New York to life; Gallery
"That said, though, it is all grist to the mill, isn't it?
A LITTLE SUCCESS
So all the to-ing and fro-ing, ultimatums and brinkmanship are everyday grist to the mill and, actually, what enlivens what is, after all, just another business negotiation.
Dealing with leaks; PHIL REDMOND
More grist to the mill of CBI director general Sir Digby Jones, who has been waging a one-man campaign on the theme.
I fear Sir Digby's winds of change will be little more than a breeze
Alan Shatter's smirking visage on The Late Late Show refusing to answer direct questions merely adds grist to the mill.
Bungling Kenny not up to task