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Laborious Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

"To grab / grip somebody's attention" and "To hold somebody's attention" (what's the difference, please)

Hello!

I was wondering if someone could explain to me the difference between "To hold somebody's attention" and "to grip/grab somebody's attention". Is there any difference between them, please?

I have there two sentences, and I'd like to know if we can use either 'hold' or 'grab / grip' in them.

- The boring teacher failed to (grab / grip / hold) the students' attention.

- The mystery novel (grabbed / gripped / held) my attention and I couldn't put it down.

Thanks a lot.
  

Top answer

Hold would be to keep the attention once you have grabbed it. I think we more often use catch , but grab is okay. Grip doesn't sound natural to me.

— Philip

  • Hold would be to keep the attention once you have grabbed it.
  • I think we more often use catch , but grab is okay.
  • Grip doesn't sound natural to me.
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8 Answers
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Hold would be to keep the attention once you have grabbed it. I think we more often use catch, but grab is okay. Grip doesn't sound natural to me.
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Laborious "To hold somebody's attention"
Mary held the student's attention.

It means that the students focus on Mary for a (long) period of time.
Laborious"to grab somebody's attention".
Sirens are designed with a sound that grabs people's attention.

This is the instant in time where your focus sh
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So, that's the difference. OK, teachers, and thank you for your helpful replies.

I have formed a sentence (written below) where I have used both "hold" and "grab". Could you please look at it if it is correct or not?

- The maiden speech by the minister grabbed the audience's attention instantly, but it couldn't hold it for long. By the time half of the speech was
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Laborious- The maiden speech by the minister grabbed the audience's attention instantly, but it couldn't hold it for long. By the time half of the speech was delivered, more than half of the audience had left the room
I find those to be correct. "...maiden speech by the minister..." seems a bit odd to me, however. Do you mean that it was the first speech he
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PhilipDo you mean that it was the first speech he made?
Yes.

Do do use a different word or term for that? Please make me familier with that if you do.
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Laborious PhilipDo you mean that it was the first speech he made?Yes. Do do use a different word or term for that? Please make me familier with that if you do.
A ship makes a maiden voyage, but I don't know that speeches usually carry that distinction. Perhaps introductory, initial, first. Any suggestions from other natives?
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This is probably what you mean: inaugural address.
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'Maiden speech' is fine in BrE.
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