grill someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grill someone" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to questioning someone intensely or aggressively, often to extract information. Example: The detective decided to grill the suspect for more details about the crime. Alternative expressions include "interrogate" and "cross-examine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Be it takeout or Dad firing up the grill, someone else taking over meal duties is seriously appreciated.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The grounds, now whittled down to nine acres, are bordered on one side by the round-the-clock throom of the Staten Island Expressway and on two others by encroaching town houses, so close you could grab a hot dog off the grill on someone's back deck.

The New York Times

Whenever my friends and I were having burgers at the Frost Top or Camellia Grill after school, someone who knew my parents would appear out of nowhere to remind me that I was looking not-so-pleasingly plump and didn't I want to reconsider that double order of fries.

The New York Times

Someone grilled hot dogs and hamburgers.

The New Yorker

Someone grilled burgers and franks, while R&B and hip-hop thumped from a boom box.

The New York Times

Her young son, she told us, looking sideways at someone grilling octopus on Homeric charcoal, wants an iPhone 6.

Independent

A place to fire up the grill -- or have someone fire it up for you.

The New York Times

"If you can bowl a ball at someone's grill, I don't care who you are you're going to feel intimidated - and especially on a wicket like Perth," he said.

BBC

He just plays tough, physical defense, does not play with any intent to injure, but isn't afraid to get in someone's grill".

Wikipedia

Behind the bar, someone was grilling meat for the star and his crew.

The New York Times - Arts

It was all at once both refreshing to see someone properly "grilled" on Newsnight for the first time in months, and depressing that it had to be by another guest.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This phrase is highly effective in journalistic writing to describe a tough interview or a political inquiry.

Common error

In writing that involves actual cooking, be careful when using "grill someone" as it can create unintended dark humor or confusion. If you mean to say someone is cooking for another person, use "grill for someone" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grill someone" functions as a transitive verb phrase. It uses the culinary verb 'grill' metaphorically to imply the application of metaphorical heat through persistent inquiry. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase often appears in contexts where an authority figure or journalist is seeking hidden information.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Informal

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

5%

Academic

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grill someone" is a versatile and punchy idiomatic expression. Ludwig AI indicates that it is most frequently used to describe high-stakes questioning in media and social contexts. While its literal origins are culinary, its metaphorical application is perfectly acceptable in most writing that isn't strictly formal or technical. When you need to convey that a questioning session is more than just a simple chat, "grill someone" is an excellent choice to add flavor and intensity to your prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

interrogate someone

More formal and often carries a clinical or law-enforcement connotation

give someone a grilling

Nouns form of the same idiom, often used to describe the event rather than the action

question someone relentlessly

A descriptive literal alternative that removes the culinary metaphor

cross-examine someone

Suggests a formal, legalistic approach to questioning for the purpose of checking facts

press someone for answers

Emphasizes the persistence of the questioner in seeking a response

third-degree someone

An older idiom for very intense, sometimes aggressive questioning

pump someone for information

More informal and suggests trying to get specific details out of a person

put someone on the spot

Focuses on the discomfort or pressure the person feels when asked a difficult question

quiz someone

Lighter in intensity and can be used in academic or casual settings

roast someone

Often implies mockery or public joking rather than just questioning for information

FAQs

How do you use "grill someone" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe intense questioning, such as: "The committee began to "grill the CEO" about the company's missing funds".

What can I say instead of "grill someone"?

Depending on the tone, you can use alternatives like "interrogate", "quiz", or "question closely".

What is the difference between "grill someone" and "roast someone"?

While "grill someone" focuses on rigorous questioning to get information, "roast someone" usually refers to mocking or making fun of someone, often in a good-natured but sharp way.

Is "grill someone" considered formal English?

It is generally considered a neutral-to-informal idiom. While common in quality news media like "The New York Times", it might be replaced by "examine" or "interrogate" in strictly formal legal or academic documents.