Two questions...

[Yuri Yoshikuni]

1) A native speaker of English once told me that the word "grope" always has a sexual connotation. Is this true? Is it inappropriate to say,"We are still groping for a solution to this problem?"

2) Does the expression,"It's all in hand" mean everything is under control?


YY

[RonBee]

1) The word "grope" only occassionaly has sexual connotations. ("We are groping for a way out of our difficulties.") However, "We are still looking for a solution" is probably better.

2) Yes.

:)

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Yuri Yoshikuni

1) A native speaker of English once told me that the word "grope" always has a sexual connotation. Is this true? Is it inappropriate to say,"We are still groping for a solution to this problem?"

2) Does the expression,"It's all in hand" mean everything is under control?


YY

I agree with Ron about groping only sometimes having anything to do with fondling.

People grope around in the dark, looking for other things than body parts.

:wink:

grope (grōp)

v., groped, grop·ing, gropes.

v.intr.
To reach about uncertainly; feel one's way: groped for the telephone.
To search blindly or uncertainly: grope for an answer.
v.tr.
To make (one's way) by reaching about uncertainly.
Slang. To handle or fondle for sexual pleasure.
n.
The act or an instance of groping.

[Tdol]

We also grope for words when we find it hard to say what we mean.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by tdol

We also grope for words when we find it hard to say what we mean.

Do the words slap us?