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grace
by the grace of God
By the direction, blessings, or assistance of a higher power (e.g., God). By the grace of God, let me never have to go through something like that again! We never need question our purpose, for we are led by the grace of God.
good graces
Favorable, kindly, or approving regard or treatment. Usually used in the phrase "in someone's good graces" or some variation thereof. John's been in my good graces ever since he helped get me out of debt. I was out of Mary's good graces for a while after I lost her cat.
grace period
1. A period of time after a debt has become due for payment during which no new fees, penalties, or interest are accrued. Our new student credit plan offers an additional 30-day grace period on all credit card purchases.
2. A period of time after an insurance premium has become due for payment during which the terms of the policy remain active and in effect. Luckily, I was still within the grace period for my home insurance policy when the basement got flooded, or else I don't know how I would have afforded the repairs!
3. By extension, any period of time following a deadline during which no penalty is issued. Due to his mother's sudden death, James was given a grace period of three weeks to submit his dissertation.
coup de grace
An action or event that brings a swift end to suffering or a worsening situation. The phrase is French for "blow of mercy." The samurai delivered a merciful coup de grace to his mortally wounded enemy. The large class action lawsuit was the coup de grace that caused the failing company to finally go out of business.
saving grace
A redeeming quality of something or someone. The only saving grace about that house is the large eat-in kitchen. Aunt Gertrude's incessant talking can be annoying, but her kindness is her saving grace—I know that she would help us with anything, no questions asked.
airs and graces
A pretentious manner. She's always putting on airs and graces because she wants to impress other people. There's no need to put on airs and graces with me. I knew you long before you ever became successful.
fall from grace
1. . Lit. to sin and get on the wrong side of God. (A Christian concept.) It was either fall from grace or starve from lack of money. That's how thieves are made. Given the choice between falling from grace and starving, few people choose to starve.
2. Fig. to do something wrong and get in trouble with someone other than God. I hear that Ted lost the Wilson contract and has fallen from grace with the boss. The accounting firm has fallen from grace and the board is looking for a new one.
grace someone or something with one's presence
Fig. to honor someone or something with one's presence. "How nice of you to grace us with your presence," Mr. Wilson told Mary sarcastically as she entered the classroom late. The banquet was graced with the presence of the governor.
grace something with something
Fig. to adorn something or some place with something, especially a person's presence. The lovely lady graced our home with her presence. The stage was graced with flowers and a few palm trees.
graced with something
made elegant by means of some ornament or decoration. The altar was graced with lovely white flowers. The end of the beautiful day was graced with a beautiful sunset.
*in someone's good graces
Fig. in good with someone; in someone's favor. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) I'm not in her good graces so I shouldn't be the one to ask her.
lapse from grace
1. Lit. to fall out of favor with God. The child was told that if he ever smoked even one cigarette, he would lapse from grace for certain. It is easy, these days, to lapse from grace.
2. Fig. to fall out of favor. Ted lapsed from grace when he left the lobby door unlocked all weekend. I have to be there on time every day or I will lapse from grace for sure.
saving grace
Cliché the one thing that saves or redeems someone or something that would otherwise be a total disaster. Her saving grace is that she has a lot of money. The saving grace for the whole evening was the good music played by the band.
say grace
to say a prayer of gratitude before or after a meal. Grandfather always says grace at Thanksgiving. A local preacher said grace at the banquet.
There but for the grace of God (go I).
Prov. I would likely have experienced or done the same bad thing if God had not been watching over me. (You can say this to refer to someone who has had bad luck; implies that the person is no less virtuous than you are but is now miserable purely because of bad luck, which might happen to you as well.) Jill: Ever since Julia's house burned down, she's been drinking heavily; she'll probably lose her job because of it. Jane: There but for the grace of God.... Whenever Sally saw a beggar, she thought, "There but for the grace of God go I."
fall from grace
to lose your reputation or rank
After 12 years in power, the party has fallen from grace with voters. Usage notes: often used as a noun phrase: His fall from grace began when FBI agents searched his home.
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of fall from grace (to lose the approval and protection of God), which happened to Adam and Eve in the Bible
in somebody's good graces
(slightly formal) also in the good graces of somebody benefiting from someone's good opinion Marj would do just about anything to keep in Vinnie's good graces.
airs and graces
false ways of behaving that are intended to make other people feel that you are important and belong to a high social class The other children started calling her 'princess' because of her airs and graces. It's no good putting on airs and graces with me. I knew you when you were working in a shop! Look at you giving yourself airs and graces - think you're better than us, do you?
a coup de grace
(formal) an action or event which ends or destroys something that is gradually becoming worse Jane's affair delivered the coup de grace to her failing marriage.
fall from grace
to do something bad which makes people in authority stop liking you or admiring you When a celebrity falls from grace, they can find it very difficult to get work in television.
There but for the grace of God (go I).
something that you say which means something bad that has happened to someone else could have happened to you When you hear about all these people who've lost all this money, you can't help thinking there but for the grace of God go I.
See fall from gracea saving grace
a good quality that makes you like something or someone although you do not like anything else about them It's a small cinema and the seats are uncomfortable, but the saving grace is that people aren't allowed to eat during the film.
fall from grace
Experience reduced status or prestige, cease to be held in favor, as in The whole department has fallen from grace and may well be dissolved entirely. This expression originally alluded to losing the favor of God. Today it is also used more loosely, as in the example. [Late 1300s]
in someone's bad graces
Also,
in someone's bad books. Out of favor with someone. For example,
Harry's tardiness put him in the teacher's bad graces, or
Making fun of the director is bound to get you in his bad books. The use of
grace in the sense of "favor" dates from the 1400s; the use of
books dates from the early 1800s. Also see
black book, def. 1;
in someone's good graces.
in someone's good graces
Also,
in someone's good books;
in the good graces of. In someone's favor or good opinion, as in
Ruth is back in her mother's good graces, or
Bill is anxious to get in the boss's good books, or
She was always in the good graces of whoever happened to be in charge. The use of
good grace dates from the 1400s,
grace alluding to the condition of being favored;
good books dates from the early 1800s. One antonym is
out of someone's good graces, as in
Walking out on his speech got him out of the professor's good graces. Another is
in someone's bad graces.
saving grace, a
A redeeming quality, especially one compensating for drawbacks or negative characteristics. For example, She may not be too knowledgeable, but her saving grace is that she doesn't pretend to be . This term, dating from the late 1500s, at first referred to the concept of being saved from eternal damnation, and was used more loosely only from the late 1800s on.
say grace
Pronounce a short prayer before a meal, as in Before we started in on the turkey, we asked Liz to say grace. The word grace here signifies asking for God's blessing or giving thanks for the food being served. [Early 1300s]
there but for the grace of God go I
I also could be in that terrible situation, as in Seeing him with two flat tires on the highway, she said "There but for the grace of God go I ." This expression has been attributed to John Bradford, who so remarked on seeing criminals being led to their execution (c. 1553) and who in fact was executed himself as a heretic a few years later. A number of religious leaders, including John Bunyan, have been credited with it as well.
with bad grace
Reluctantly, rudely, as in
He finally agreed to share the cost, but with bad grace. [Mid-1700s] Also see
with good grace.
with good grace
Willingly, pleasantly, as in
They had tried hard to win but accepted their loss with good grace. [Mid-1700s] Also see
with bad grace.
grace with
v.1. To lend honor or prestige to someone or some event. Used chiefly in the passive: We were graced with high praise from our superiors. The ambassadors kindly joined the reception and graced it with their presence.
2. To decorate, adorn, or benefit something by means of some added feature. Used chiefly in the passive: The living room of this house is graced with a large fireplace.
3. To decorate, adorn, or benefit something: The caterer finished setting the table and graced it with candles.
fall from grace
To experience a major reduction in status or prestige.
in the bad graces of
Out of favor with.
in the good graces of
In favor with.
with bad grace
In a grudging manner.
with good grace
In a willing manner.