bring him grief

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bring him grief" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing actions or situations that cause someone emotional pain or distress. Example: "His constant criticism seemed to bring him grief, affecting his overall happiness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He's been in the public eye for decades, so he must have known that his tweets lamenting hostility towards the Calais child refugees would bring him grief and yet still he spoke out.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Virtually every American president since Dwight Eisenhower has had a Middle Eastern country that brought him grief.

The New York Times

His father's death and the unexpected seizure of his legacy by certain members of the family brought him grief and impoverishment during his seven-year stay at Bologna, but he persisted in his studies.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Gheller said: "[The Year in Review feature is] awesome for a lot of people, but clearly in this case we brought him grief rather than joy". Facebook has also seen complaints from users after pictures of deceased pets and an urn containing human remains were selected as "highlights" of the year.

BBC

He returns to the United States and works in a number of professions — steel mill worker, bank teller, farm hand, and disarmament lobbyist — but his unique stature among mortal men forever brings him grief.

Wikipedia

"[The app] was awesome for a lot of people, but clearly in this case we brought him grief rather than joy," Jonathan Gheller, the product manager for Facebook's Year in Review app told the Post.

Huffington Post

Conrad's short masterpiece describes the "green sickness" of late youth, when a young man desires to "flee from the menace of emptiness". The unnamed narrator's flight ends when he is captain of a merchant ship in Southeast Asia; the terrors of sickness and the sea bring him to grief, maturity and wisdom.

Stanford University

Matt Mattheww Perry and Danny Bradley Whitfordrd) are a prickly but talented creative team who worked at "Studio 60" before going on to success in films; they arrive over the objections of the NBS chairman, Jack Rudolph Steven Weberr, in a nifty turn as a corporate infighter), who, having forced the pair out once before, fears, correctly, that they will bring him nothing but grief.

The New Yorker

Details some of the accusations against him and tells about the investigative reporting of Florence Graves, which brought him to grief.

The New Yorker

But it was Mr Batista's personal flaws a belief in his own infallibility and a fondness for yes-men that brought him to grief.

The Economist

But the tiny one he entered so cautiously himself, in which not a single American soldier has died, has brought him disproportionate grief.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bring him grief" to describe situations or actions that directly result in emotional pain or sorrow for the person mentioned. Consider the intensity of the emotion you wish to convey when choosing this phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "bring him grief" for minor inconveniences or temporary setbacks. Grief implies a deeper, more prolonged sense of sorrow and loss, and using it inappropriately can diminish the gravity of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bring him grief" functions as a verb phrase where "bring" is the verb, "him" is the indirect object, and "grief" is the direct object. It describes the action of causing sorrow or distress to someone. Ludwig confirms this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

13%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bring him grief" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to convey that someone or something is the source of significant emotional suffering for another person. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and highlights that the phrase is most frequently found in News & Media sources, with less frequent occurrences in academic or encyclopedic contexts. It is best suited for describing situations that cause deep sorrow or distress. Alternatives such as "cause him sorrow" or "inflict pain on him" can be used to add nuances to the expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause him sorrow

Focuses specifically on causing sadness or sorrow.

inflict pain on him

Emphasizes the act of causing suffering.

make him suffer

Highlights the experience of enduring hardship.

give him trouble

Suggests causing difficulties or problems.

cause him distress

Emphasizes emotional anxiety and pain.

bring him misery

Focuses on causing a state of unhappiness.

be a source of anguish for him

Highlights a deep feeling of suffering.

cause him heartache

Specifically refers to emotional pain, especially from loss or disappointment.

be detrimental to him

Refers to causing harm or damage, not strictly emotional.

be a burden to him

Focuses on causing someone to feel weighed down or oppressed.

FAQs

How can I use "bring him grief" in a sentence?

You can use "bring him grief" to describe situations or actions that cause someone significant emotional pain or sorrow. For example: "His constant criticism seemed to bring him grief, affecting his overall happiness."

What can I say instead of "bring him grief"?

You can use alternatives like "cause him sorrow", "inflict pain on him", or "make him suffer" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "brought him grief" or "bring him grief"?

"Brought him grief" is the past tense form, while "bring him grief" is the present tense form. The choice depends on the time frame you are referring to. For example, "The news brought him grief" (past) vs. "Such decisions will bring him grief" (future).

What's the difference between "bring him grief" and "cause him pain"?

"Bring him grief" specifically refers to causing a deep sense of sorrow and loss, while "cause him pain" can refer to both physical and emotional suffering. Grief is a more intense and prolonged emotion than general pain.