Writing Tip 47: “Bear” vs. “Bare” (a.k.a. “Grin & Bare It?”)
I knew a certain toddler who liked to “grin and bare it,” but that was more along the lines of laughing as he ran around his room before we could get him into his pajamas. The expression most people are looking for here is “grin and bear it”—“bear” spelled like the like the animal, not “bare” like a naked giggling child.
In conclusion:
- “Bear” n. – a woodland creature (e.g. Yogi, Fozzie, Smokey…)
- “Bear” v. – 1) to hold up under pressure (i.e. grin and bear it), 2) to support (i.e. to bear a load of bricks), 3) to produce/bring forth (i.e. to bear fruit, to bear a child).
- “Bare” adj. – 1) to be unconcealed, naked, 2) to be sparse (see also “Bare” v.)
While I’m all for confidence, people, let’s try to keep the grinning and baring it to a minimum. Okay?