“Grouse” can mean a type of bird, especially one that lives on the ground and is often hunted. In British English, it can also mean to complain or grumble about something.
In everyday speech, people usually use “grouse” in the second way when talking about someone who is unhappy about a situation. For example, if someone keeps complaining about the weather, their job, or a delay, you might say they are grousing.
Meaning & Usage
As a noun, a grouse is a bird. As a verb, to grouse means to complain in an annoyed but often not very serious way. This is more common in informal British English.
Examples
“He spent the whole morning grousing about the traffic.”
“There’s a grouse in the field.”
“She always grouses when the train is late.”
Is “grouse” a formal word?
No, when it means “complain,” it is usually informal and more common in casual speech.
Does “grouse” always mean complain?
No. It can also mean a bird, depending on the context.
Is “grouse” used in American English?
Yes, but the meaning “complain” is much more common in British English.
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