The idiom "come to grips with" means to confront and deal with a difficult or challenging situation, problem, or reality. It implies that the person has finally accepted the situation and is ready to take action to handle it.
For example, if someone is struggling with a serious illness, they may need time to come to grips with their diagnosis before they can start treatment. Or, if a student is failing a class, they need to come to grips with the fact that they need to study harder to improve their grades.
The phrase is often used in situations where someone has been avoiding or denying a problem, and they finally acknowledge it and take responsibility for it. It can also be used to describe someone who has overcome a fear or a challenge and is now able to face it with confidence.
In short, "come to grips with" means to face a problem or challenge head-on and take responsibility for finding a solution.
• I finally came to grips with my fear of public speaking by taking a course and practicing in front of small groups.
• She needs to come to grips with the fact that she has to wake up early every day for work.
• After the accident, it took me a while to come to grips with the fact that I could no longer participate in my favorite sport.
• The company had to come to grips with the reality of the economic downturn and make some tough decisions.
• The politician struggled to come to grips with the public backlash over his controversial comments.
• It's important to come to grips with the cultural differences when traveling to a foreign country.