[Vocabulary] the right meaning of "groan"

[sykim99]

On the test paper "what is the meaning of "groan"?

one of the examples was
"to say that you are not satisfied with something"

Does it explain right the meaning of "groan"?

 

[susiedqq]

Groan can be a verb or noun.

"giving a groan" is an idiom


John groaned when he lifted the weight.

John gave a groan when he saw the price of the car.

John groaned, "I can't see the show."

 

[sykim99]

Groan can be a verb or noun.

"giving a groan" is an idiom


John groaned when he lifted the weight.

John gave a groan when he saw the price of the car.

John groaned, "I can't see the show."

Thanks
Is it o.k. if I use the word "groan" when I am not satisfied with something?

 

[Raymott]

Thanks
Is it o.k. if I use the word "groan" when I am not satisfied with something?

No, 'groan' does not mean 'complain'. Nor is it a word that one uses when one wants to complain. A dictionary might help you.

 

[Barb_D]

No? You don't have the expression "moan and groan"?

It's not my first choice for "complain" but "They got home late, tired, and hungry, moaning and groaning about the length of the drive and the traffic" is pretty natural.

 

[Raymott]

No? You don't have the expression "moan and groan"?

It's not my first choice for "complain" but "They got home late, tired, and hungry, moaning and groaning about the length of the drive and the traffic" is pretty natural.

Yes, we sure do have the expression.
But here is the question I was responding to:
Is it o.k. if I use the word "groan" when I am not satisfied with something?
My meaning was: No, you cannot go up to a salesman and say "I wish to groan about something".

 

[Raymott]

To clarify:
You can use 'groan' to mean 'complain' when you are talking about someone else. But you'd have to be careful using it in the first and second person.
The words are not synonymous.
Besides, you can "groan" with pleasure, but not many people complain with pleasure.

 

[tigerpaws]

To be very literal, a groan is a sound we make. It sounds like ohhhhhhhh spoken in a very low pitch, for example. This sound is made when you are unhappy or disappointed about something.

 

[Tdol]

Re-opening as requested

 

[hhtt21]

Groan can be a verb or noun.

"giving a groan" is an idiom


John groaned when he lifted the weight.

John gave a groan when he saw the price of the car.

John groaned, "I can't see the show."

Would somebody give video links when somebody was groaning or giving a groan such as in these examples?

Is this an example of groaning or moaning?

When the nurse injecting to small child, the child said ıhhhhhhhhh (=groaned) in the hospital.

 

[GoesStation]

Would somebody give video links when somebody was groaning or giving a groan such as in these examples?

Is this an example of groaning or moaning?

When the nurse [STRIKE]injecting[/STRIKE] gave an injection to a small child, the child said ıhhhhhhhhh (=groaned) [STRIKE]in the hospital[/STRIKE].

Children who are scared of injections usually do a lot more than groan when they get one; they scream, cry, etc. You might groan if you found out you were going to have to work four hours extra every day next week. It's a low sound made deep in the throat with the mouth slightly open.

Note that the Turkish undotted I character doesn't exist in English.

 

[hhtt21]

Children who are scared of injections usually do a lot more than groan when they get one; they scream, cry, etc. You might groan if you found out you were going to have to work four hours extra every day next week. It's a low sound made deep in the throat with the mouth slightly open.

Note that the Turkish undotted I character doesn't exist in English.

When somebody encounter with a very bad smell, they utter a sound something like ihhhhhhhhh, or ehhhhhh. This sound is also deep and low, with narrowing eyes and pressing the teeths. I think everybody knows this feeling and the sound accompanied to it. So is this a characteristic case of to groan?

 

[emsr2d2]

Not really, no. The sound made at a really bad smell is usually written as "Ewww" or something similar. I associate "groaning" with either pain or disappointment.