grand gesture

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   a large, dramatic action meant to show love, apology, or strong feeling

   Grammar: Countable; use a/an or a plural: a grand gesture, grand gestures.

   Patterns

   • make a grand gesture
   • a grand gesture of something

   He filled her whole apartment with roses as a grand gesture.

   After the argument, he made a grand gesture by flying across the country to say sorry.

   Sometimes a small daily kindness matters more than a grand gesture.

2. 2nouncountabledisapproving

   a showy action done mainly to impress people or look important

   Grammar: Often used slightly critically, suggesting the action is more about appearance than real help.

   Patterns

   • a grand gesture for the cameras
   • nothing but a grand gesture

   The mayor's plan was dismissed as a grand gesture with no real funding.

   Critics called the donation a grand gesture for the cameras.

Word forms

Common combinations

make a grand gesture

He wanted to make a grand gesture, so he hired a plane to write her name in the sky.

a grand romantic gesture

The film ends with a grand romantic gesture at the airport.

a grand gesture of apology

Sending the whole team on holiday was a grand gesture of apology.

nothing but a grand gesture

Without follow-up funding, the promise was nothing but a grand gesture.

Synonyms and how they differ

stunt

A stunt is a risky or attention-seeking action, often for publicity, and sounds more negative than a grand gesture.

gesture

A gesture alone can be small or symbolic; grand gesture emphasizes size and drama.

Word family

gesture noun

a movement or action that expresses an idea or feeling

gesture verb

to move your hands or head to show something

Commonly confused: grand gesture or grandstanding?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “grand gesture”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words