give
give away
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you give away something that you own, you give it to someone, rather than selling it, often because you no longer want it.
He was giving his collection away for nothing...
We have six copies of the book to give away.
≠ keep
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If someone gives away an advantage, they accidentally cause their opponent or enemy to have that advantage.
We gave away a silly goal...
= throw away
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you give away information that should be kept secret, you reveal it to other people.
She would give nothing away...
They felt like they were giving away company secrets.
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
To give someone or something away means to show their true nature or identity, which is not obvious.
Although they are pretending hard to be young, grey hair and cellulite give them away...
5 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
In a Christian wedding ceremony, if someone gives the bride away, they officially present her to her husband. This is traditionally done by the bride's father.give back
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P to n, V n P n (not pron), V n P
If you give something back, you return it to the person who gave it to you.
I gave the textbook back to him...
You gave me back the projector...
I gave it back politely.give in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you give in, you admit that you are defeated or that you cannot do something.
All right. I give in. What did you do with the ship?
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you give in, you agree to do something that you do not want to do.
I pressed my parents until they finally gave in and registered me for skating classes...
Officials say they won't give in to the workers' demands.give off
or give out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If something gives off or gives out a gas, heat, or a smell, it produces it and sends it out into the air.
...natural gas, which gives off less carbon dioxide than coal...give out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you give out a number of things, you distribute them among a group of people.
There were people at the entrance giving out leaflets.
= hand out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you give out information, you make it known to people.
He wouldn't give out any information...
How often do you give your phone number out?
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P
If a piece of equipment or part of the body gives out, it stops working.
All machines give out eventually...
One of his lungs gave out entirely.
4
see give offgive over to
or give up to
[PHRASAL VERB] usu passive, be V-ed P P n
If something is given over or given up to a particular use, it is used entirely for that purpose.
Much of the garden was given over to vegetables...give up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n/-ing, V P
If you give up something, you stop doing it or having it.
Coastguards had given up all hope of finding the two divers alive.
...smokers who give up before 30.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you give up, you decide that you cannot do something and stop trying to do it.
After a fruitless morning sitting at his desk he had given up.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n/-ing (not pron), V P n/-ing (not pron)
If you give up your job, you resign from it.
She gave up her job to join her husband's campaign...
He is thinking of giving up teaching.
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P n (not pron)
If you give up something that you have or that you are entitled to, you allow someone else to have it.
Georgia refuses to give up any territory...
One of the men with him gave up his place on the bench.
5 [PHRASAL VERB] V pron-refl P
If you give yourself up, you let the police or other people know where you are, after you have been hiding from them.
A 28-year-old man later gave himself up and will appear in court today.give up on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P P n, V P P n
If you give up on something or someone, you decide that you will never succeed in doing what you want to with them, and you stop trying to.
He urged them not to give up on peace efforts...
My teachers gave up on me.give up to
see give over to♦♦♦ give1 /g'ɪv/ (give gives giving gave given) USED WITH NOUNS DESCRIBING ACTIONS
1 [VERB] no cont, V n, V n n
You can use give with nouns that refer to physical actions. The whole expression refers to the performing of the action. For example, She gave a smile means almost the same as `She smiled'.
She stretched her arms out and gave a great yawn...
He reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
2 [VERB] V n n, V n n, V n
You use give to say that a person does something for another person. For example, if you give someone a lift, you take them somewhere in your car.
I gave her a lift back out to her house...
He was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation...
Sophie asked her if she would like to come and give art lessons.
3 [VERB] V n, V n n, V n to n, V n as n
You use give with nouns that refer to information, opinions, or greetings to indicate that something is communicated. For example, if you give someone some news, you tell it to them.
He gave no details...
Would you like to give me your name?...
He asked me to give his regards to all of you...
He gave the cause of death as multiple injuries.
4 [VERB] V n n
You use give to say how long you think something will last or how much you think something will be.
A BBC poll gave the Labour Party a 12 per cent lead...
5 [VERB] no cont, no passive, with brd-neg, V n
People use give in expressions such as I don't give a damn to show that they do not care about something. (INFORMAL)
They don't give a damn about the country.
6 [VERB] V n n, V n
If someone or something gives you a particular idea or impression, it causes you to have that idea or impression.
They gave me the impression that they were doing exactly what they wanted in life...
The examiner's final report does not give an accurate picture.
7 [VERB] V n n, V n to n, also V n
If someone or something gives you a particular physical or emotional feeling, it makes you experience it.
He gave me a shock...
It will give great pleasure to the many thousands of children who visit the hospital each year.
8 [VERB] V n, V n n
If you give a performance or speech, you perform or speak in public.
Kotto gives a stupendous performance...
I am sure you remember Mrs Butler who gave us such an interesting talk last year.
9 [VERB] V n n, V n to n/-ing
If you give something thought or attention, you think about it, concentrate on it, or deal with it.
I've been giving it some thought...
Priority will be given to those who apply early.
10 [VERB] V n
If you give a party or other social event, you organize it.
That evening, I gave a dinner party for a few close friends.
= have♦♦♦ give2 /g'ɪv/ (give gives giving gave given) TRANSFERRING
1 [VERB] V n n, V n to n, V to n
If you give someone something that you own or have bought, you provide them with it, so that they have it or can use it.
They gave us T-shirts and stickers...
He gave money to the World Health Organisation to help defeat smallpox...
Americans are still giving to charity despite hard economic times.
2 [VERB] V n n, V n to n
If you give someone something that you are holding or that is near you, you pass it to them, so that they are then holding it.
Give me that pencil...
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to him.
3 [VERB] V n to n, V n n
To give someone or something a particular power or right means to allow them to have it.
...a citizen's charter giving rights to gays...
The draft would give the president the power to appoint the central bank's chairman.
= grant♦♦♦ give3 /g'ɪv/ (give gives giving gave given) OTHER USES, PHRASES, AND PHRASAL VERBS
Please look at category 7 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 [VERB] V
If something gives, it collapses or breaks under pressure.
My knees gave under me.
2 [V-PASSIVE] be V-ed to-inf
You say that you are given to understand or believe that something is the case when you do not want to say how you found out about it, or who told you. (FORMAL)
We were given to understand that he was ill...
3
see also given
4 [PHRASE] PHR n
You use give me to say that you would rather have one thing than another, especially when you have just mentioned the thing that you do not want.
I've never had anything barbecued and I don't want it. Give me a good roast dinner any day.
5 [PHRASE]
If you say that something requires give and take, you mean that people must compromise or co-operate for it to be successful.
...a happy relationship where there's a lot of give and take.
6 [PHRASE] PHR amount
Give or take is used to indicate that an amount is approximate. For example, if you say that something is fifty years old, give or take a few years, you mean that it is approximately fifty years old.
They grow to a height of 12 ins-give or take a couple of inches.
7 [PHRASE]
If an audience is asked to give it up for a performer, they are being asked to applaud. (INFORMAL)
Ladies and Gentlemen, give it up for Fred Durst.
8
to give the game away: see game
to give notice: see notice
to give rise to: see rise
to give way: see way
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you give away something that you own, you give it to someone, rather than selling it, often because you no longer want it.
He was giving his collection away for nothing...
We have six copies of the book to give away.
≠ keep
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If someone gives away an advantage, they accidentally cause their opponent or enemy to have that advantage.
We gave away a silly goal...
= throw away
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you give away information that should be kept secret, you reveal it to other people.
She would give nothing away...
They felt like they were giving away company secrets.
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
To give someone or something away means to show their true nature or identity, which is not obvious.
Although they are pretending hard to be young, grey hair and cellulite give them away...
5 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
In a Christian wedding ceremony, if someone gives the bride away, they officially present her to her husband. This is traditionally done by the bride's father.give back
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P to n, V n P n (not pron), V n P
If you give something back, you return it to the person who gave it to you.
I gave the textbook back to him...
You gave me back the projector...
I gave it back politely.give in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you give in, you admit that you are defeated or that you cannot do something.
All right. I give in. What did you do with the ship?
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you give in, you agree to do something that you do not want to do.
I pressed my parents until they finally gave in and registered me for skating classes...
Officials say they won't give in to the workers' demands.give off
or give out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If something gives off or gives out a gas, heat, or a smell, it produces it and sends it out into the air.
...natural gas, which gives off less carbon dioxide than coal...give out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you give out a number of things, you distribute them among a group of people.
There were people at the entrance giving out leaflets.
= hand out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you give out information, you make it known to people.
He wouldn't give out any information...
How often do you give your phone number out?
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P
If a piece of equipment or part of the body gives out, it stops working.
All machines give out eventually...
One of his lungs gave out entirely.
4
see give offgive over to
or give up to
[PHRASAL VERB] usu passive, be V-ed P P n
If something is given over or given up to a particular use, it is used entirely for that purpose.
Much of the garden was given over to vegetables...give up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n/-ing, V P
If you give up something, you stop doing it or having it.
Coastguards had given up all hope of finding the two divers alive.
...smokers who give up before 30.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you give up, you decide that you cannot do something and stop trying to do it.
After a fruitless morning sitting at his desk he had given up.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n/-ing (not pron), V P n/-ing (not pron)
If you give up your job, you resign from it.
She gave up her job to join her husband's campaign...
He is thinking of giving up teaching.
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P n (not pron)
If you give up something that you have or that you are entitled to, you allow someone else to have it.
Georgia refuses to give up any territory...
One of the men with him gave up his place on the bench.
5 [PHRASAL VERB] V pron-refl P
If you give yourself up, you let the police or other people know where you are, after you have been hiding from them.
A 28-year-old man later gave himself up and will appear in court today.give up on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P P n, V P P n
If you give up on something or someone, you decide that you will never succeed in doing what you want to with them, and you stop trying to.
He urged them not to give up on peace efforts...
My teachers gave up on me.give up to
see give over to♦♦♦ give1 /g'ɪv/ (give gives giving gave given) USED WITH NOUNS DESCRIBING ACTIONS
1 [VERB] no cont, V n, V n n
You can use give with nouns that refer to physical actions. The whole expression refers to the performing of the action. For example, She gave a smile means almost the same as `She smiled'.
She stretched her arms out and gave a great yawn...
He reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
2 [VERB] V n n, V n n, V n
You use give to say that a person does something for another person. For example, if you give someone a lift, you take them somewhere in your car.
I gave her a lift back out to her house...
He was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation...
Sophie asked her if she would like to come and give art lessons.
3 [VERB] V n, V n n, V n to n, V n as n
You use give with nouns that refer to information, opinions, or greetings to indicate that something is communicated. For example, if you give someone some news, you tell it to them.
He gave no details...
Would you like to give me your name?...
He asked me to give his regards to all of you...
He gave the cause of death as multiple injuries.
4 [VERB] V n n
You use give to say how long you think something will last or how much you think something will be.
A BBC poll gave the Labour Party a 12 per cent lead...
5 [VERB] no cont, no passive, with brd-neg, V n
People use give in expressions such as I don't give a damn to show that they do not care about something. (INFORMAL)
They don't give a damn about the country.
6 [VERB] V n n, V n
If someone or something gives you a particular idea or impression, it causes you to have that idea or impression.
They gave me the impression that they were doing exactly what they wanted in life...
The examiner's final report does not give an accurate picture.
7 [VERB] V n n, V n to n, also V n
If someone or something gives you a particular physical or emotional feeling, it makes you experience it.
He gave me a shock...
It will give great pleasure to the many thousands of children who visit the hospital each year.
8 [VERB] V n, V n n
If you give a performance or speech, you perform or speak in public.
Kotto gives a stupendous performance...
I am sure you remember Mrs Butler who gave us such an interesting talk last year.
9 [VERB] V n n, V n to n/-ing
If you give something thought or attention, you think about it, concentrate on it, or deal with it.
I've been giving it some thought...
Priority will be given to those who apply early.
10 [VERB] V n
If you give a party or other social event, you organize it.
That evening, I gave a dinner party for a few close friends.
= have♦♦♦ give2 /g'ɪv/ (give gives giving gave given) TRANSFERRING
1 [VERB] V n n, V n to n, V to n
If you give someone something that you own or have bought, you provide them with it, so that they have it or can use it.
They gave us T-shirts and stickers...
He gave money to the World Health Organisation to help defeat smallpox...
Americans are still giving to charity despite hard economic times.
2 [VERB] V n n, V n to n
If you give someone something that you are holding or that is near you, you pass it to them, so that they are then holding it.
Give me that pencil...
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to him.
3 [VERB] V n to n, V n n
To give someone or something a particular power or right means to allow them to have it.
...a citizen's charter giving rights to gays...
The draft would give the president the power to appoint the central bank's chairman.
= grant♦♦♦ give3 /g'ɪv/ (give gives giving gave given) OTHER USES, PHRASES, AND PHRASAL VERBS
Please look at category 7 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 [VERB] V
If something gives, it collapses or breaks under pressure.
My knees gave under me.
2 [V-PASSIVE] be V-ed to-inf
You say that you are given to understand or believe that something is the case when you do not want to say how you found out about it, or who told you. (FORMAL)
We were given to understand that he was ill...
3
see also given
4 [PHRASE] PHR n
You use give me to say that you would rather have one thing than another, especially when you have just mentioned the thing that you do not want.
I've never had anything barbecued and I don't want it. Give me a good roast dinner any day.
5 [PHRASE]
If you say that something requires give and take, you mean that people must compromise or co-operate for it to be successful.
...a happy relationship where there's a lot of give and take.
6 [PHRASE] PHR amount
Give or take is used to indicate that an amount is approximate. For example, if you say that something is fifty years old, give or take a few years, you mean that it is approximately fifty years old.
They grow to a height of 12 ins-give or take a couple of inches.
7 [PHRASE]
If an audience is asked to give it up for a performer, they are being asked to applaud. (INFORMAL)
Ladies and Gentlemen, give it up for Fred Durst.
8
to give the game away: see game
to give notice: see notice
to give rise to: see rise
to give way: see way