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grudge
hold a grudge
To harbor persistent and continual resentment or ill feelings toward someone, especially for some slight or wrongdoing he or she has committed in the past. Johnny has been holding a grudge against me since we were 12 because I embarrassed him in front of a girl he liked. Samantha is just so forgiving—I don't think she's ever held a grudge in her life!
bear a grudge (against someone)
and have a grudge (against someone); hold a grudge (against someone)to continue feeling an old resentment for someone; to harbor continual anger for someone. She bears a grudge against the judge who sentenced her. I have a grudge against my landlord for not fixing the leaky faucet.
hold a grudge
(against someone) Go to bear a grudge (against someone).
nurse a grudge (against someone)
Fig. to keep resenting and disliking someone over a period of time. (Usually implies that it has been an unreasonably long time.) Sally is still nursing a grudge against Mary. How long can anyone nurse a grudge?
bear a grudge
to continue to feel angry or not friendly towards someone who has done something to upset you in the past She got the job I applied for, but I'm not one to bear a grudge. (sometimes + against ) He still bears a grudge against her because she refused to go out with him years ago.
bear a grudge
Also, have or hold a grudge . Maintain resentment or anger against someone for a past offense. For example, They held up my claim for months, but I won't bear a grudge against them, or His grandfather was always one to hold a grudge. [c. 1600]
nurse a grudge
Bear resentment for a long time, as in We don't know why Karl looks so angry; I think he's nursing a grudge against the family. This expression uses nurse in the sense of "foster a feeling," a usage dating from the mid-1700s.