Flashcards based on "Give idioms flashcards set to learn" set
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1 of 10
To show guilt; show you have done wrong.
Compare: [GIVE AWAY].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
Not to hold yourself back from; let yourself enjoy.
Compare: [ENJOY ONESELF], [LET ONESELF GO].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
. give oneself up to
[give oneself up to] {v. phr.}
Not to hold yourself back from; let yourself enjoy.
Uncle Willie gave himself up to a life of wandering.
John came inside from the cold and gave himself up to the pleasure of being in a warm room.
Compare: [ENJOY ONESELF], [LET ONESELF GO].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
1a. To stop trying to keep; surrender; yield.
Compare: [GIVE ONESELF UP], [HAND OVER], [LET GO] (1a).
Contrast: [HOLD ON TO].
1b. To allow; permit.
2. To stop doing or having; abandon; quit.
Compare: [LEAVE OFF], [PART WITH].
3. To stop hoping for, waiting for, or trying to do.
4. To stop trying; quit; surrender.
Compare: [GIVE IN] (2), [RESIGN ONESELF], [THROW IN THE SPONGE].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
. give up
[give up] {v.}
1a. To stop trying to keep; surrender; yield.
The dog had the ball in his mouth and wouldn't give it up.
Jimmy is giving up his job as a newsboy when he goes back to school.
Compare: [GIVE ONESELF UP], [HAND OVER], [LET GO] (1a).
Contrast: [HOLD ON TO].
1b. To allow; permit.
Ford gave up two walks in the first inning.
2. To stop doing or having; abandon; quit.
The doctor told Mr. Harris to give up smoking.
Jane hated to give up her friends when she moved away.
Compare: [LEAVE OFF], [PART WITH].
3. To stop hoping for, waiting for, or trying to do.
Johnny was given up by the doctors after the accident, but he lived just the same.
When Mary didn't come by nine o'clock, we gave her up.
I couldn't do the puzzle so I gave it up.
4. To stop trying; quit; surrender.
The war will be over when one of the countries gives up.
The other team gave up after we scored three touchdowns.
Compare: [GIVE IN] (2), [RESIGN ONESELF], [THROW IN THE SPONGE].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
1. To make known; let it be known; publish.
2. To let escape; give.
Syn.: [GIVE OFF], [LET GO].
3. to give to people; distribute.
Compare: [HAND OUT], [PASS OUT].
4. To fail; collapse.
Compare: [WEAR OUT].
5. To be finished or gone.
Syn.: [RUN OUT], [RUN SHORT]. Compare: [USE UP], [WEAR OUT].
6. {slang}
Not to hold back; act freely; let yourself go. — Often used in the imperative.
7. {informal}
To show how you feel.
Compare: [LET GO].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
. give out
[give out] {v.}
1. To make known; let it be known; publish.
Mary gave out that she and Bob were going to be married.
2. To let escape; give.
The cowboy gave out a yell.
Syn.: [GIVE OFF], [LET GO].
3. to give to people; distribute.
The barber gives out free lollipops to all the children.
Compare: [HAND OUT], [PASS OUT].
4. To fail; collapse.
Tom's legs gave out and he couldn't run any farther.
The chair gave out under the fat man.
Compare: [WEAR OUT].
5. To be finished or gone.
When the food at the party gave out, they bought more.
The teacher's patience gave out.
Syn.: [RUN OUT], [RUN SHORT]. Compare: [USE UP], [WEAR OUT].
6. {slang}
Not to hold back; act freely; let yourself go. — Often used in the imperative.
You're not working hard, Charley. Give out!
7. {informal}
To show how you feel.
When Jane saw the mouse, she gave out with a scream.
Give out with a little smile.
Compare: [LET GO].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
1. To go back; retreat.
Compare: [FALL BACK].
2. To make room, get out of the way.
Compare: [MAKE WAY].
3. To lose control of yourself; lose your courage or hope; yield.
Compare: [GIVE UP], [LOSE ONE'S HEAD].
4. To collapse; fail.
Compare: [GIVE OUT] (4), [LET GO] (1a).
5. To let yourself be persuaded; give permission.
Compare: [GIVE IN].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
. give way
[give way] {v.}
1. To go back; retreat.
The enemy army is giving way before the cannon fire.
Compare: [FALL BACK].
2. To make room, get out of the way.
The children gave way and let their mother through the door.
Compare: [MAKE WAY].
3. To lose control of yourself; lose your courage or hope; yield.
Mrs. Jones didn't give way during the flood, but she was very frightened.
Compare: [GIVE UP], [LOSE ONE'S HEAD].
4. To collapse; fail.
The river was so high that the dam gave way.
Mary's legs gave way and she fainted.
Compare: [GIVE OUT] (4), [LET GO] (1a).
5. To let yourself be persuaded; give permission.
Billy kept asking his mother if he could go to the movies and she finally gave way.
Compare: [GIVE IN].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
1a. To make room for; allow to go or pass; yield to.
1b. To allow to decide.
1c. To lose control of (your feelings), not hold back.
2. or [give place to]. To be replaced by.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
. give way to
[give way to] {v. phr.}
1a. To make room for; allow to go or pass; yield to.
John gave way to the old lady and let her pass.
1b. To allow to decide.
Mrs. Rogers gave way lo her husband in buying the car.
1c. To lose control of (your feelings), not hold back.
Timmy gave way to his feelings when his dog died.
2. or [give place to]. To be replaced by.
Radio has given way to television in popularity.
When she saw the clowns, the little girl's tears gave way lo laughter.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
1. To give as a present.
2. To hand over (a bride) to her husband at the wedding.
3. To let (a secret) become known; tell the secret of.
Compare: [SPILL THE BEANS], [LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG].
4. See: [GIVE ONESELF AWAY].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
. give away
[give away] {v.}
1. To give as a present.
Mrs. Jones has several kittens to give away.
2. To hand over (a bride) to her husband at the wedding.
Mr. Jackson gave away his daughter.
3. To let (a secret) become known; tell the secret of.
The little boy gave away his hiding place when he coughed.
Mary said she didn't care anything about John, but her blushing face gave her away.
Compare: [SPILL THE BEANS], [LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG].
4. See: [GIVE ONESELF AWAY].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
To send out; let out; put forth.
Syn.: [GIVE OUT] (2).
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
1. To give trouble by what you do or say; complain.
Compare: [GIVE FITS].
2. To get in the way by teasing or playing; kid.
Compare: [ACT UP], [IN ONE'S HAIR].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
. give a hard time
[give a hard time] {v. phr.}, {informal}
1. To give trouble by what you do or say; complain.
Jane gave her mother a hard time on the bus by fighting with her sister and screaming.
Don't give me a hard time, George. I'm doing my best on this job.
Compare: [GIVE FITS].
2. To get in the way by teasing or playing; kid.
Don't give me a hard time, boys. I'm trying to study.
Compare: [ACT UP], [IN ONE'S HAIR].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
1. or [give the air]
To stop being a friend or lover to (a person); separate from.
2. or [give the sack] also [give the hook]
To fire from a job; dismiss.
Contrast: [GET THE BOUNCE].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
. give the bounce
[give the bounce] or [give the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang}
1. or [give the air]
To stop being a friend or lover to (a person); separate from.
Mary gave John the bounce after she saw him dating another girl.
Bill and Jane had an argument and Bill is giving her the gate.
2. or [give the sack] also [give the hook]
To fire from a job; dismiss.
The ball team gave Joe the gate because he never came to practice.
Contrast: [GET THE BOUNCE].
A Dictionary of American Idioms