INDEX:
1. to say that you are annoyed or not satisfied about something
2. to complain a lot in an annoying way
3. someone who is always complaining
4. a complaint
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ PROTEST
↑ CRITICIZE
↑ SATISFIED/NOT SATISFIED
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1. to say that you are annoyed or not satisfied about something
▷ complain /kəmˈpleɪn/ [intransitive/transitive verb not in passive]
to say that you are annoyed and not satisfied about something or someone :
▪ We had to remove the advertisement because so many people complained.
▪ Residents are complaining because traffic in the area has increased.
complain about
▪ Their neighbours complained about their constant loud music.
complain that
▪ Jenny’s always complaining that her boss gives her too much work.
complain to
▪ If the hotel isn’t satisfactory, you should complain to the Tourist Office.
constantly complain
▪ He constantly complains about how he’s treated at work.
complain bitterly
complain very strongly
▪ Workers who had lost their jobs complained bitterly about the way they had been treated.
▷ make a complaint /ˌmeɪk ə kəmˈpleɪnt/ [verb phrase]
to formally complain about something to someone in authority :
▪ Write to this address if you wish to make a complaint.
make a complaint to
▪ Parents made a complaint to the principal about bullying in the school.
▷ lodge a complaint British /file a complaint American /ˌlɒdʒ ə kəmˈpleɪntǁˌlɑːdʒ-, ˌfaɪl ə kəmˈpleɪnt/ [verb phrase]
to make an official complaint, usually in writing, to someone in authority :
▪ She went to the city council and lodged a complaint.
lodge a complaint with
▪ The company said it plans to file a complaint with the International Trade Commission.
lodge a complaint against
▪ Conyers said she had been blocked from promotion after filing a complaint against a male co-worker.
▷ protest /prəˈtest/ [intransitive/transitive verb not in passive]
to complain about something, especially publicly or officially, because you are annoyed or think it is unfair :
▪ He was carried away in a police van, protesting loudly.
protest about
▪ Passengers protested angrily about increased rail fares.
protest to
▪ The journalists have protested to government officials about the way they were treated.
protest (that)
▪ Dan protested it wasn’t him who had caused the problems.
protest your innocence
say that you are innocent
▪ Mills, who has been in prison since 1987, has always protested his innocence.
▷ object /əbˈdʒekt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to say that you do not agree with something or you do not approve of it, because it annoys you or offends you :
▪ ‘My name’s not Sonny,’ the child objected.
object to
▪ Does anyone object to these proposals?
object if
▪ Will she object if I use her laptop?
▷ take it up with/take the matter up with /ˌteɪk ɪt ˈʌp wɪð, ˌteɪk ðə ˌmætər ˈʌp wɪð/ [verb phrase]
to speak or write to someone in authority complaining about something :
▪ I told her she should take it up with her local council.
▪ Alton said he was prepared to take the matter up with the Ministry of Health if necessary.
▷ air your grievances /ˌeəʳ jɔːʳ ˈgriːv ə nsə̇z/ [verb phrase]
to talk about the things you are unhappy or annoyed about, especially in public to people in authority so that they can do something about them :
▪ The meeting gave employees an opportunity to air their grievances.
▪ The uprising at Southport prison ended after inmates were allowed to air their grievances to the media.
2. to complain a lot in an annoying way
▷ moan /məʊn/ [intransitive/transitive verb] especially British, informal
to keep complaining in an annoying way - use this about someone who complains all the time, even about things that are not important :
▪ I’m fed up with hearing you moaning the whole time!
moan about
▪ Why do people always moan about the weather?
▷ grumble /ˈgrʌmb ə l/ [intransitive verb]
to keep complaining in a bad-tempered way, especially when you think you have been treated unfairly :
▪ The old man turned away, grumbling as he went.
grumble about
▪ She was grumbling about having to work so late.
▪ The people standing beside me were grumbling about not being able to find a place to park.
▷ make a fuss especially British also kick up a fuss British /ˌmeɪk ə ˈfʌs, ˌkɪk ʌp ə ˈfʌs/ [verb phrase]
to complain angrily and noisily about something, so that everyone hears you or notices you :
▪ I don’t understand why you’re making such a fuss. It’s not that important.
make a fuss about
▪ The couple sitting next to us made a big fuss about their bill.
▷ go on about /gəʊ ˈɒn əbaʊt/ [verb phrase] British informal
to keep complaining about something or someone’s behaviour in an annoying way :
▪ Our neighbours are always going on about the noise we make.
go on and on about
for a long time
▪ Look, I’m sorry I kept you waiting, but there’s no need to go on and on about it.
▷ nag /næg/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to keep complaining to someone, especially in order to make them do something that they do not want to do :
▪ I wish you’d stop nagging me.
nag about
▪ My mom’s always nagging me about my room.
nag at
▪ Jane’s boss nags at her all the time.
nagging [uncountable noun]
constant/incessant etc nagging
▪ I don’t know how you put up with Claire’s constant nagging.
▷ whinge /wɪndʒ/ [intransitive verb] British informal
to keep complaining in an annoying way - use this when someone is complaining about something that is not important or is something they could change if they really wanted to :
whinge about
▪ He’s always whinging about being underpaid.
▪ Nick was a pain in the neck. He did nothing but whinge the whole trip.
▷ whine /waɪn/ [intransitive verb]
to keep complaining about something unimportant, especially in a sad, annoying voice :
▪ ‘What did you do that for?’ he whined.
▪ For heaven’s sake stop whining. Nobody has touched your precious records.
whine about
▪ He’s always whining about how much everything costs.
3. someone who is always complaining
▷ grouch /graʊtʃ/ [countable noun]
someone who is always complaining :
▪ Her dad’s a terrible grouch.
▪ You’re such a grouch in the morning.
▷ misery/misery guts /ˈmɪzəri, ˈmɪzəri ˌgʌts/ [singular noun] British informal
someone who is always complaining, is never happy, and does not like other people to enjoy themselves :
▪ Emma is a real misery guts.
▪ Stop being such a misery. It’s not the end of the world.
▷ whinger /ˈwɪndʒəʳ/ [countable noun] British informal
someone who keeps complaining in an annoying way - use this when someone is complaining about something that is not important or is something they could change if they wanted to :
▪ This place is full of whingers. It’s just pathetic.
▪
4. a complaint
▷ complaint /kəmˈpleɪnt/ [countable/uncountable noun]
something that you say or write when you are complaining, especially to someone in an official position :
▪ If you have any complaints, please contact our customer relations department.
▪ Our main complaint is the poor standard of service.
▪ If you have a complaint, you should write to the manager.
make a complaint
▪ Some employees are worried about what will happen to them if they make a complaint.
complaint about
▪ Keating was dismissed after complaints about the quality of his work.
formal complaint
▪ Mr Kelly has made a formal complaint against the police.
letters of complaint
▪ The commission has so far received nearly 10,000 letters of complaint.
▷ protest /ˈprəʊtest/ [countable/uncountable noun]
when someone complains publicly about something that they think is wrong or unfair and should not be allowed to happen :
▪ Despite their protests, the students’ fees were increased.
in protest
as a way of making a protest
▪ When two members of the team were dismissed, the rest of them walked out in protest.
protest against
▪ The ambassador lodged a formal protest against the proposals.
ignore somebody’s protests
▪ Ignoring my protests, he took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.
▷ outcry /ˈaʊtkraɪ/ [countable noun usually singular]
an angry protest by a lot of people about something that they think is very wrong or unfair :
▪ Despite an outcry, the university refused to change its admission policies.
public outcry
▪ The shooting of an unarmed teenager by police caused a public outcry.
outcry about/over
▪ There was a widespread outcry over the increase in fuel tax.
outcry against
▪ The public outcry against the executions made little difference.
▷ grievance /ˈgriːv ə ns/ [countable noun]
something that you feel unhappy about because you think that you have been treated unfairly - use this especially about an official complaint you make about the place where you work :
file a grievance
officially complain
▪ She filed a grievance last year after her supervisor refused to promote her.
grievance against
▪ Anyone who has a legitimate grievance against the company can take it to the arbitration committee.
air a grievance
discuss a grievance publicly
▪ The meetings give employees the opportunity to express their views or air grievances.
▷ gripe /graɪp/ [countable noun] informal
something unimportant that you keep complaining about or feel unhappy about :
▪ Students’ main gripe is the poor quality of the dorm food.
▪ I left the house because I wasn’t in the mood to listen to Maude’s gripes.