give → In addition to the idioms beginning with GIVE, also see HARD TIME (GIVE SOMEONE A); INDIAN GIVER; NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK; NOT GIVE A DAMN; NOT GIVE SOMEONE THE TIME OF DAY; WHAT’S COOKING (WHAT GIVES). Also see under idioms beginning with GET and HAVE.
give a bad name to Also, give someone or something a bad name. Spoil the reputation of, as in Late deliveries are giving the company a bad name. The use of bad name (sometimes put as ill name) dates from about 1400, and the proverb “He that hath a ill name is half hanged” was included in numerous collections from 1546 on.
give a break → See GIVE SOMEONE A BREAK.
give a damn → See NOT GIVE A DAMN.
give a good account of oneself Behave or perform creditably, as in Harry gave a good account of himself over the last few months, or The company will probably give a good account of itself in the next quarter. This expression transfers a financial reckoning to other affairs. [c. 1600]
give a hand 1. Also, lend a hand. Help a person, as in Let me give you a hand with those chairs, or Jane is always willing to lend a hand with refreshments. [Mid-1800s] 2. Also, give a big hand. Give an enthusiastic round of applause, as in Please give her a hand. One can also be given applause or get a big hand, as in This speaker always gets a big hand. [Early 1800s]
give a hang → See NOT GIVE A DAMN.
give a hard time → See HARD TIME.
give a hoot → See NOT GIVE A DAMN.
give a leg up → See LEG UP.
give and take 1. The practice of compromise, as in Every contract involves some give and take. This expression was first recorded in 1778, although the verbal idiom, to give and take, was used from the early 1500s. 2. Lively exchange of ideas or conversation, as in The legislature is famous for raucous give and take. [Second half of 1800s]
give an inch and they’ll take a mile Make a small concession and they’ll take advantage of you. For example, I told her she could borrow the car for one day and she’s been gone a week—give an inch! This expression, in slightly different form, was already a proverb in John Heywood’s 1546 collection, “Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell,” and is so well known it is often shortened (as in the example). The use of mile dates from about 1900.
give a pain → See PAIN IN THE NECK.
give a piece of one’s mind → See PIECE OF ONE’S MIND.
give as good as one gets Return in kind, retaliate, as in In an argument Laura can give as good she gets, or Don’t worry about the bullies in Bobby’s class—he can give as good as he gets. The general idea of this expression dates from the late 1600s, but the precise wording was first recorded only in 1952.
give a shit → See under NOT GIVE A DAMN.
give away 1. Make a gift of, bestow, as in I decided to give away all my plants. [c. 1400] 2. Present a bride to the groom in a marriage ceremony, as in Her father gave Karen away. [c. 1700] 3. Reveal or make something known, often unintentionally; also, betray or expose someone. For example, She gave away her true feelings, or He gave away his accomplices. This idiom is sometimes put as give oneself away, as in If you don’t want the family to know about your gambling, don’t give yourself away by spending your winnings. [Late 1800s]
give a wide berth Avoid, as in After Jane told on them, they gave her a wide berth. This expression alludes to giving a vessel enough room to swing at anchor so as to avoid a collision. [Mid-1800s]
give bad marks to Judge unsatisfactory, as in They gave bad marks to the President’s program. This expression transfers the marking used in evaluating schoolwork to other endeavors. [Late 1800s]
give birth to 1. Bear a child, as in She gave birth to her first child exactly at midnight. [Early 1800s] 2. Also, give rise to. Be the cause or origin of. For example, His hobby gave birth to a very successful business, or The economic situation gave rise to widespread dissatisfaction. The first term dates from the early 1700s, the second from the late 1700s.
give chase Pursue, as in The police gave chase to the robber. [c. 1700]
give color to → See LEND COLOR TO.
give credit 1. Also, extend credit. Trust someone to pay at some future time what he or she owes. For example, I haven’t enough cash this month, so I hope they’ll give me credit. This use of credit dates from the mid-1500s. 2. Acknowledge an accomplishment, as in They really should give her credit for the work she’s done. [Late 1700s] The phrase is sometimes amplified to give credit where credit is due, meaning the acknowledgment should be to the person who deserves it. This expression appeared in an 1812 newspaper article but may be older. It is sometimes put give someone his or her due, as in We should really give Nancy her due for trying to sort out this mess.
give free rein to → See under FREE HAND.
give ground Yield to a stronger force, retreat, as in He began to give ground on that point, although he didn’t stop arguing entirely. This expression originated in the 1500s, when it alluded to a military force retreating and so giving up territory to the enemy. By the mid-1600s it was being used figuratively.
give in 1. Hand in, submit, as in She gave in her report today. [Early 1600s] 2. Relent, cease opposition, yield, as in I’ll give in on this point, or You can have the car—I give in to your arguments. [Early 1600s]
give it one’s best shot Make one’s hardest or most enthusiastic attempt, as in I don’t know if I can do it, but I’ll give it my best shot. This expression employs shot in the sense of “attempt,” a usage dating from the mid-1700s.
give it to Punish or reprimand, as in Dad really gave it to Tom for coming in so late. This expression, implying a physical or verbal attack, dates from the late 1500s. Also see GIVE SOMEONE HELL. In more recent times the expression gave rise to give it to someone straight, meaning “to tell someone something candidly and directly.” For example, I asked the doctor to give it to us straight about Mother’s condition.
give me a break → See GIVE SOMEONE A BREAK, def. 2.
give me strength → See under GIVE SOMEONE A BREAK, def. 2.
give notice 1. Inform or warn someone of something, as in He’s prompt about giving us notice of any discrepancy in the accounts. [Late 1500s] 2. Tell one’s employer one is quitting, as in Our housekeeper gave notice last week. This usage, first recorded in 1765, originally alluded to any kind of termination, such as a housing lease, but today is most often used for leaving employment.
given to Tending toward, inclined to, as in She was given to eating crackers in bed. [Late 1500s]
give off Send out, emit, as in Certain chemical changes give off energy, or This mixture gives off a very strange odor. [Early 1800s]
give of oneself Give time and energy to an unselfish pursuit. For example, The minister’s sermons always emphasize giving of oneself to the less fortunate. [c. 1920]
give one → See below and also under GIVE SOMEONE.
give oneself airs → See PUT ON AIRS.
give oneself away → See GIVE AWAY, def. 3.
give oneself up 1. Surrender, as in They gave themselves up to the police. [Second half of 1500s] 2. Devote or abandon oneself completely, as in She gave herself up to her research. [Second half of 1500s] Also see GIVE UP.
give one’s eyeteeth Also, give one’s right arm. Go to any lengths to obtain, as in She’d give her eyeteeth for a mink coat, or He’d give his right arm for a new car. These hyperbolic expressions both allude to something precious, the eyeteeth (or canines) being useful for both biting and chewing and the right arm a virtual necessity for the 90 percent of the population who are righthanded. Both date from the first half of the 1900s, when the first replaced give one’s eyes, from the mid-1800s.
give or take Plus or minus a small amount, approximately, more or less. For example, We have ten acres of land, give or take a bit, or It should take a couple of hours, give or take. [Mid-1900s]
give out 1. Allow to be known, declare publicly, as in They gave out that she was ill. [Mid-1300s] 2. Send forth, emit, as in The machine gave out a steady buzzing. [Mid-1400s] 3. Distribute, as in T
hey gave out surplus food every week. [c. 1700] 4. Stop functioning, fail; also, become exhausted or used up. For example, The motor gave out suddenly, or My strength simply gave out. [First half of 1500s]
give over 1. Hand over, entrust, as in They gave over all the papers to the library. [Late 1400s] 2. Also, give oneself over. Devote or surrender to a particular purpose or use, as in The whole day was given over to merrymaking, or He gave himself over to grief. [Late 1400s]
give pause Cause one to hesitate, as in The high monthly installment payments gave me pause, or, as Shakespeare put it in Hamlet (3:1): “For in that sleep of death what dreams may come... Must give us pause.” [c. 1600]
give rein to → See under FREE HAND.
give rise to → See GIVE BIRTH TO, def. 2.
give short shrift → See SHORT SHRIFT.
give someone → See below, or under GIVE ONE, or look up the expression by its other words, as GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
give someone a break 1. Give someone a chance or special consideration. For example, She begged the professor for an extension on her term paper, saying “Please give me a break.” [c. 1900] Also see GET A BREAK. 2. give me a break. Stop trying to fool or upset or bother me. For example, Don’t tell me the party’s been postponed again—give me a break! This interjection is usually uttered with semihumorous exasperation. [Slang; late 1900s] An alternative expression of exasperation is give me strength, that is, fortitude to bear or put up with something. For example, You say you’ve used up all the coupons — oh, give me strength! [Colloquial, second half of 1900s]
give someone a ring 1. Also, give someone a buzz. Call someone on the telephone, as in Give me a ring next week, or Bill said he’d give her a buzz. Both these expressions allude to the sound of a telephone’s ring. [Colloquial; c. 1920] 2. Present a lover with an engagement ring, as in I think he’s giving her a ring tonight. [First half of 1800s]
give someone enough rope → See ENOUGH ROPE.
give someone fits → See HAVE A FIT.
give someone five → See HIGH-FIVE.
give someone heart failure Frighten or startle someone very much, as in You nearly gave me heart failure when you told me you were quitting. It is also put as have heart failure, meaning “be frightened or startled,” as in I just about had heart failure when I heard about her accident. These hyperbolic terms allude to the life-threatening physical condition in which the heart fails to pump blood at an adequate rate or stops altogether. Also see HEART MISSES A BEAT.
give someone hell Also, give someone the devil. Scold someone harshly. For example, The boss gave them hell for not finishing in time, or Mom will give her the devil if she doesn’t get home soon. Also see GIVE IT TO, def. 1.
give someone his or her due → See under GIVE CREDIT, def. 2.
give someone his or her head Also, let someone have his or her head. 1. Allow someone to proceed as he or she wishes, give someone freedom. For example, He usually gave his assistant his head when it came to scheduling appointments, or Sometimes it’s wise for parents to let a teenager have his head. This expression alludes to loosening a horse’s reins and letting it go where it wants to. [Second half of 1500s] 2. give head Perform oral sex (fellatio or cunnilingus). [Vulgar colloquialism, first half of 1900s]
give someone the air Also, give someone the brushoff or the gate or the old heave-ho. Break off relations with someone, oust someone, snub or jilt someone, especially a lover. For example, John was really upset when Mary gave him the air, or His old friends gave him the brushoff, or Mary cried and cried when he gave her the gate, or The company gave him the old heave-ho after only a month. In the first expression, which dates from about 1920, giving air presumably alludes to being blown out. The second, from the first half of the 1900s, alludes to brushing away dust or lint. The third, from about 1900, uses gate in the sense of “an exit.” The fourth alludes to the act of heaving a person out, and is sometimes used to mean “to fire someone from a job” (see GET THE AX). All these are colloquialisms, and all have variations using get, get the air (etc.), meaning “to be snubbed or told to leave,” as in After he got the brushoff, he didn’t know what to do.
give someone the evil eye → See under EVIL EYE.
give someone the once-over Also, give someone the eye. Look or stare at someone with interest. For example, The new coach gave the team the once-over before introducing himself, or He gave her the eye and she blushed. The first expression, a colloquialism, generally implies a quick but comprehensive survey or assessment. The variant, a slangy usage sometimes amplified to give the glad eye often signifies an inviting glance. [Early 1900s] Also see MAKE EYES AT.
give something a whirl Make a brief or experimental try, as in I’ve never made a pie but I’ll give it a whirl. [Colloquial; late 1800s]
give thanks for small blessings Express gratitude for a minor favor or advantage, as in My bag didn’t get on the plane but it did arrive in time—give thanks for small blessings. This expression is usually uttered when one encounters an unexpected bit of good fortune.
give the back of one’s hand → See BACK OF ONE’S HAND.
give the benefit of the doubt Regard someone as innocent until proven otherwise; lean toward a favorable view of someone. For example, Let’s give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she’s right. [Mid-1800s]
give the business → See THE BUSINESS.
give the creeps → See THE CREEPS.
give the devil his due Give credit to what is good in a disagreeable or disliked person. For example, I don’t like John’s views on education, but give the devil his due, he always has something important to say, or I don’t like what the new management has done, but give the devil his due, sales have improved. [Late 1500s]
give the eye Also, give the once-over. → See GIVE SOMEONE THE ONCE-OVER.
give the finger Make an obscene gesture by closing one’s fist and extending one’s middle finger upward, generally interpreted as FUCK YOU. For example, Herb has a dangerous habit of giving the finger to motorists who cut in front of him. Although from about 1890 to 1920 this term was used in the sense of “disappoint or snub someone,” that meaning seems to have died out. In Great Britain the gesture is made by raising two fingers in a V-sign. [Colloquial, mid-1900s]
give the go-ahead → See GO AHEAD, def. 1.
give the lie to Show to be false, refute, as in His black eye gave the lie to his contention that he hadn’t been fighting. [First half of 1500s]
give the shirt off one’s back Give anything and everything one possesses. For example, Tom is truly generous—he’ll give you the shirt off his back. This hyperbolic idiom was first recorded in 1771.
give the slip Escape or evade someone. For example, He saw the rival gang approaching but managed to give them the slip. [Mid-1500s]
give the time of day → See NOT GIVE SOMEONE THE TIME OF DAY.
give the word Also, say the word. Give an order, tell or show when something is to be done, as in If you want us to move out, just give the word, or When you want the car, just say the word. The first expression, dating from about 1400, originally alluded to uttering a password in response to a sentinel’s challenge. The second is even older, appearing in an early translation of the biblical books of Genesis and Exodus: “And God said the word to Abraham.”
give the works → See THE WORKS.
give to understand Lead one to think, as in I was given to understand that the President was coming here. [Mid-1500s]
give up 1. Surrender, as in The suspect gave himself up. [1100s] 2. Stop doing or performing something, as in They gave up the search, or She gave up smoking almost thirty years ago. [c. 1600] It may also be put as give up as a bad job, that is, decide that someone or something is not worth pursuing. [c. 1800] 3. Part with, relinquish, as in They gave up their New York apartment, or We gave up all hope of finding the lost tickets. [Mid-1500s] 4. Lose hope for, as in We had given you up as lost. [Late 1500s] 5. Admit defeat, as in I give up—what’s the right a
nswer? [c. 1600] 6. give up on. Abandon, lose one’s faith in, as in I gave up on writing a novel, or She gave up on religion years ago. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s] Also see GIVE ONESELF UP TO.
give up the ghost Die, as in At ten o’clock he gave up the ghost. This expression, which employs ghost in the sense of “the soul or spirit,” may itself be dying out. [Late 1300s]
give vent to Express an emotion, as in He didn’t dare give vent to his annoyance in front of her parents. [Late 1500s]
give voice to Say or express, especially an opinion or feeling. For example, The faculty gave voice to their anger over the dean’s tenure decisions. This term once meant “to vote.” Its present sense dates from the mid-1800s.
give way 1. Retreat or withdraw, as in The army gave way before the enemy. [Early 1500s] 2. Yield the right of way; also, relinquish ascendancy, as in The cars must give way to the parade, or The children were called inside as day gave way slowly to night. [Early 1700s] It may also be put as give up as a bad job, that is, decide that something or someone is not worth pursuing. [c. 1800] 3. Collapse, fail, break down, as in The ladder gave way, or His health gave way under the strain. [Mid-1600s] 4. Also, give way to. Yield to urging or demand, as in At the last minute he gave way and avoided a filibuster, or The owners gave way to their demands for a pay increase. [Mid-1700s] 5. Also, give way to. Abandon oneself, lose self-control, as in She gave way to hysteria, or Don’t give way to despair. [First half of 1800s]
give way to → See GIVE WAY, def. 4 and 5.
give what for → See WHAT FOR.
glad → In addition to the idioms beginning with GLAD, also see GIVE SOMEONE THE ONCE-OVER (GLAD EYE); NOT SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY.
glad hand A warm and hearty but often insincere welcome or greeting, as in Politicians are apt to give the glad hand to one and all. [Slang; late 1800s]
glad rags Stylish clothes, as in Let’s put on our glad rags and go out on the town. [Slang; late 1800s]
glance → See AT FIRST BLUSH (GLANCE).
glass → In addition to the idioms beginning with GLASS, also see PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN’T THROW STONES.
The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms Page 47
