Grist to the Mill Meaning, Example, Synonyms 

The meaning of “Grist to the mill” as an idiomatic expression refers to something that is useful or advantageous. Especially in terms of providing material or information for a particular purpose or goal. It signifies the idea of contributing to the progress or success of a situation or endeavour.

The idiom “grist to the mill” originates from the milling industry, where ‘grist’ refers to grain that is brought to a mill to be ground into flour. 

Also Read: Useful Idioms with Examples, Sentences and Meanings

Usage with Examples

Nowadays, the idiom is used in a figurative sense, suggesting any input, information, or resource that can be used to further a cause, solve a problem, or achieve a goal. 

Let’s take a closer look at the examples given below to build a better usage of the idiom:

• The recent data collected from customer surveys is grist to the mill for our product development team.
• The negative feedback from our competitors only serves as a grist to the mill for us to improve our strategy.
• The challenging case studies provided in the training session were grist to the mill for the participants’ problem-solving abilities.

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Grist to the Mill Synonyms

The following phrases are synonymous with the idiom Grist to the Mill:

• Fodder for the mill
• Meat for the mill
• Material for the mill
• Grains for the mill

Grist to the Mill Meaning Quiz

The controversy surrounding the issue gave the journalists the grist to the mill:

• They needed to write impactful articles.
• It was an answer to their longing to escape the project.
• They could finally get a pay raise. 

Answer: They needed to write impactful articles.

Also Read: Idioms for IELTS

This was all about the idiom Grist to Mill’s meaning and example. Hopefully, you understood the concept where it’s used. For more such blogs, follow Leverage Edu.