groan

groan about (someone or something)

To complain or gripe about someone or something. I turned the thermostat up, so you all can stop groaning about how cold it is in here, thanks. Michael, as long as you have long hair, Grandma is going to groan about it—you better get used to it.
See also: groan

groan box

slang An accordion. Sorry, I gave all of my change to the guy playing the groan-box in the subway station.
See also: box, groan

groan out

To say something in a low, guttural tone, often with difficulty or in a labored manner. A noun or pronoun can be used between "groan" and "out." Luckily, the patient managed to groan her symptoms out before collapsing. He struggled to groan out his address to the 911 dispatcher.
See also: groan, out

groan under (someone or something)

1. Literally, to be in danger of collapsing due to supporting something that is too heavy. Come on, the shelves are practically groaning under the weight of all those book—can't we remove a few of them?
2. To struggle with some sort of burden or difficulty (emotional, psychological, financial, etc.). The average person will certainly groan under these strict new laws. After months of groaning under the weight of depression on my own, I finally started seeing a therapist.
See also: groan

groan under the weight of (something)

To be in danger of collapsing due to supporting something that is too heavy. Come on, the shelves are practically groaning under the weight of all those book—can't we remove a few of them?
See also: groan, of, weight

groan with (something)

To utter a groan for a particular reason (stated after "with"). The patient groaned with discomfort as the doctor examined his injured leg.
See also: groan
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

groan about someone or something

to complain about someone or something. What are you groaning about? She is groaning about her work.
See also: groan

groan something out

to say something with a groan. He groaned the name out. He groaned out the name of his assailant before he passed out.
See also: groan, out

groan under something

 
1. Lit. to groan while bearing a heavy burden. He groaned under the weight of the trunk. The rafters groaned under the heavy weight of the pianos.
2. Fig. to suffer under a burden. For years, the people had groaned under the cruel ruler. England groaned under the rule of Cromwell just as he had groaned under King Charles.
See also: groan

groan with something

to groan because of something, such as pain. She groaned with pain, but no one helped her. I think the old man was groaning with boredom more than anything else.
See also: groan
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

groan under the weight of something

(written) used to say that there is a lot or too much of something: The dining table was groaning under the weight of all the food.
The phrase suggests that something such as a table is making a low noise because there is too much weight on it.
See also: groan, of, something, weight
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

groan box

n. an accordion. (see also (squeeze-)box.) Clare is pretty good on the groan box.
See also: box, groan
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • groan about
  • groan about (someone or something)
  • grumble
  • grumble about
  • grumble about (someone or something)
  • grouse about
  • grouse about (someone or something)
  • grumble at
  • grumble at (someone)
  • grouse
References in periodicals archive
St Paul sums up the idea in Second Corinthians: "Yes, we groan, and find it a burden being still in this tent, not that we want to strip it off, but to put the second garment over it and to have what must die taken up into life."SHARP CONTRASTSThis is the paradox of Christian life.
Let us learn to trust God even in difficult times
Brake creep groan has been proven to be a structure-borne vibration [10], which is related not only to brake assembly but also to some subsystems.
A Transient Dynamic Model of Brake Corner and Subsystems for Brake Creep Groan Analysis
The nasal cannula recording on the polysomnogram (PSG) indicated decreased air flow during each groan. Since increased respiratory effort with decreased airflow indicates airway obstruction and since a small oropharynx is a risk factor for OSA, Guilleminault et al.
Catathrenia: parasomnia or OSA symptom?
We should not ignore that Augustine's discussion of the same "body" comes from settings where he refers to his sweating before a packed house, or to the stench generated by his congregation over the course of his sermon, where he pleads with a great crowd in Carthage to quiet down because his voice is liable to give out or mentions the way they groan when enduring the burdens of incorrigible members of the body.
An ecclesiology of groaning: Augustine, the psalms, and the making of church
Functionally, the prophets are bearers of the pathos and pain of the silenced, bringing the inexpressible groan that lies at the heart of repressed suffering to the expression of language in the ears of leadership.
Theology and the City: Learning to Cry, Struggling to See
Then, also as usual, you hear the worst sound in the world: your team- mates, your friends, nice kids but they can't help themselves - they groan that groan.
Carol Sarler's Column: Don't be such a big spoilsport, Mr Blair
All night he's groan I love you baby, marry me, let me do it to you: Girl, he made my toes curl.
The Fields of Praise: New and Selected Poems
2) "James Lee Burke is walking along the familiar, humid paths lining the bayou, deep in the smothering confines of southern Louisiana, not far from the small city where almost every narrow alley and turn-of-the century building groan with some bit of history left behind by long-gone members of his family.
Writing clinic
As I recalled the stunted remains of one of my prized delphiniums, I could only groan in agreement.
Slug wars
They did not groan when females were not on their territories, and either stood with heads down or actually bedded, apparently asleep.
Lek breeding in a Texas population of fallow deer (Dama dama)
[TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] is used with the meaning 'to groan in terror' while [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] is used with the meaning 'to mourn or wail in dismay [at a cruel twist of fate]').
Another look at why Jesus 'sighs deeply': [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] in Mark 8: 12a
Pulleys groan loudly as the "grinders," the strongest crew members, pull the sails into their new position, once again achieving the perfect curve.
The race is on
Gormenghast series Three fantasy novels--Titus Groan, Gormenghast, and Titus Alone--by British author and illustrator Peake, Mervyn.
Gormenghast series
I CAN remember when I was a little, young [slave] girl, how my old mammy would sit out of doors in the evenings and look up at the stars and groan, and I would say, "Mammy, what makes you groan so?" And she would say, "I am groaning to think of my poor children; they do not know where I be and I don't know where they be.
To Black mothers, with love: a tribute in words and paintings
Sadly a train-ing injury (groan) put paid to the proposal, some problem with the axle.
Gauging the reaction of buffs, Pete's trains are choo-choo pricy!