Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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[get on to one]{v. phr.} To figure someone out; understand what someone else is up to. •/The FBI is on to Jim’s secret trading with the enemy./

[get one wrong]{v. phr.} To misinterpret; misunderstand another. •/Don’t get me wrong; I didn 't mean to criticize you./

[get] or [have one’s say] See: DAY IN COURT.

[get out]{v. phr.} 1. Leave or depart. •/«Get out of here!» the teacher shouted angrily to the misbehaving student./ •/«Driver, I want to get out by the opera.»/ 2. To publish; produce. •/Our press is getting out two new books on ecology./ 3. To escape; leak out. •/We must not let the news about this secret invention get out./

[get out in the open] See: OUT IN THE OPEN.

[get out of]{v. phr.} 1. To be excused from; avoid. •/He got out of jury duty because of his illness./ 2. To gain from; extract from. •/Tom complained that he didn’t get anything out of the course on grammar./

[get out of the way] See: OUT OF THE WAY.

[get out of hand] See: OUT OF HAND, OUT OF CONTROL.

[get over]{v.} 1. To finish. •/Tom worked fast to get his lesson over./ 2. To pass over. •/It was hard to get over the muddy road./ 3. To get well from; recover from. •/The man returned to work after he got over his illness./ 4. To accept or forget (a sorrow or suprise.) •/It is hard to get over the death of a member of your family./ •/We could not get over the speed of Mary’s recovery from pneumonia./

[get rattled]{v. phr.} To become confused, overexcited, or nervous. •/The thief got so rattled when he saw the police following him that he drove his car into a ditch./

[get rid of] See: RID OF.

[get set]{v. phr.} To get ready to start. •/The runners got set./ •/The seniors are getting set for the commencement./

[get short shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT.

[get something out of one’s system]{v. phr.} 1. To eliminate some food item or drug from one’s body. •/John will feel much better once he gets the addictive sleeping pills out of his system./ 2. To free oneself of yearning for something in order to liberate oneself from an unwanted preoccupation. •/Ted bought a new cabin cruiser that he’d been wanting for a long time, and he says he is glad that he’s finally got it out of his system./

[get something over with] See: OVER WITH(1).

[get something straight]{v. phr.} To clearly comprehend an issue. •/«Let me get this straight,» Burt said. «You want $85,000 for this miserable shack?»/

[get stoned]{v. phr.}, {slang} To become very drunk or high on some drug. •/Poor Fred was so stoned that Tom had to carry him up the stairs./ Compare: THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.

[get straight] See: GO STRAIGHT, GO LEGIT.

[get stuck]{v. phr.} 1. To be victimized; be cheated. •/The Smiths sure got stuck when they bought that secondhand car; it broke down just two days after they got it./ 2. To become entrapped or embroiled in a physical, emotional, or social obstacle so as to be unable to free oneself. •/Last winter our car got stuck in the snow and we had to walk home./ •/Poor Jeff is stuck in a terrible job./ •/Tom and Jane are stuck in a bad marriage./

[get (all) the breaks]{v. phr.} To be fortunate; have luck. •/That fellow gets all the breaks! He’s been working here only six months, and he’s already been promoted to vice president!/

[get the air] See: GET THE BOUNCE(1).

[get the ax]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be fired from a job. •/Poor Joe got the ax at the office yesterday./ 2. To be dismissed from school for improper conduct, such as cheating. •/Joe got caught cheating on his final exam and he got the ax./ 3. To have a quarrel with one’s sweetheart or steady ending in a termination of the relationship. •/Joe got the ax from Betsie – they won’t see each other again./

[get the ball rolling] or [set the ball rolling] or [start the ball rolling]{informal} To start an activity or action; make a beginning; begin. •/George started the ball rolling at the party by telling a new joke./ Compare: KEEP THE BALL ROLLING.

[get the better of] or [get the best of]{v. phr.} 1. To win over, beat; defeat. •/Our team got the best of the visitors in the last quarter./ •/George got the better of Robert in a game of checkers./ •/When the opposing player fouled John, John let his anger get the better of his good sense and hit the boy back./ •/Dave wanted to study till midnight, but sleepiness got the best of him./ Compare: RUN AWAY WITH(1). 2. or [have the best of] or [have the better of] To win or be ahead in (something); gain most from (something.) •/Bill traded an old bicycle tire for a horn; he got the best of that deal./ •/Our team had the best of it today, but they may lose the game tomorrow./ •/The champion had all the better of it in the last part of the fight./ Contrast: GET THE WORST OF.

[get the boot] or [the gate] or [the sack] See: GET THE AXE.

[get the bounce] or [get the gate]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. or [get the air] To lose one’s sweetheart; not be kept for a friend or lover. •/Joe is sad because he just got the gate from his girl./ •/Shirley was afraid she might get the air from her boyfriend if she went out with other boys while he was away./ 2. or [get the sack] also [get the hook] To be fired; lose a job. •/Uncle Willie can’t keep a job; he got the sack today for sleeping on the job./ •/You’re likely to get the bounce if you are absent from work too much./ Contrast: GIVE THE BOUNCE.

[get the brush-off]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be paid no attention; not be listened to or thought important. •/My idea for a party got the brush-off from the other children./ 2. To be treated in an unkind or unfriendly way; be ignored. •/Frank and Jane had an argument, so the next time he telephoned her, he got the brush-off./ Compare: COLD SHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: BRUSH OFF.

[get the cart before the horse] See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE.

[get the eye]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be looked at, especially with interest and liking. •/The pretty girl got the eye as she walked past the boys on the street corner./ 2. To be looked at or stared at, especially in a cold, unfriendly way. •/When Mary asked if she could take home the fur coat and pay later, she got the eye from the clerk./ Contrast: GIVE THE EYE.

[get the feel of]{v. phr.} To become used to or learn about, especially by feeling or handling; get used to the experience or feeling of; get skill in. •/John had never driven a big car, and it took a while for him to get the feel of it./ •/You’ll get the feel of the job after you’ve been there a few weeks./

[get the go-ahead] or [the green light]{v. phr.} To receive the permission or signal to start or to proceed. •/We had to wait until we got the go-ahead on our research project./

[get the goods on] or [have the goods on]{v. phr.}, {slang} To find out true and, often, bad information about; discover what is wrong with; be able to prove the guilt of. •/Tell the truth, Johnny. We know who your girl is because we’ve got the goods on you./ •/The police had the goods on the burglar before he came to trial./ Compare: HAVE SOMETHING ON.

[get the hook] See: GET THE BOUNCE(2).

[get the inside track] See: INSIDE TRACK.

[get the jitters]{v. phr.} To become very nervous or excited. •/I always get the jitters when I sit in an airplane that’s about to take off./

[get the jump on] or [have the jump on]{v. phr.}, {slang} To get ahead of; start before (others); have an advantage over. •/Don’t let the other boys get the jump on you at the beginning of the race./ •/Our team got the jump on their rivals in the first minutes of play, and held the lead to win./

[get the last laugh] See: HAVE THE LAST LAUGH.

[get the lead out of one’s pants]{v. phr.}, {slang} To get busy; work faster. •/The captain told the sailors to get the lead out of their pants./ •/The coach told the players to get the lead out of their pants./

[get the lowdown on]{v. phr.} To receive the full inside information on a person or thing. •/We need to get the lowdown on Peter before we can decide whether or not to hire him./

[get the message] or [get the word]{v. phr.}, {slang} To understand clearly what is meant. •/The principal talked to the students about being on time, and most of them got the message./ •/Mary hinted to her boyfriend that she wanted to break up, but he didn’t gel the message./ Compare: THE PICTURE.

[get the picture] See: THE PICTURE.

[get the runaround] See: RUN AROUND.

[get the sack]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be fired or dismissed from work. •/John got the sack at the factory last week./ 2. To be told by one’s lover that the relationship is over. •/Joanna gave Sam the sack./ See: GET THE AX and GET THE BOUNCE(2).

[get the show on the road]{v. phr.}, {informal} To start a program; get work started. •/It was several years before the rocket scientists got the show on the road./ Compare: GET THE BALL ROLLING.

[get the third degree] See: THIRD DEGREE.

[get the upper hand on] See: UPPER HAND.

[get the word] See: GET THE MESSAGE.

[get the works] See: THE WORKS.

[get the worst of] also [have the worst of]{v. phr.} To lose; be defeated or beaten in; suffer most. •/Joe got the worst of the argument with Molly./ – Often used in the phrase «the worst of it». •/If you start a fight with Jim, you may get the worst of it./ •/Bill had the worst of it in his race with Al./ •/Jack traded his knife for a few marbles; he got the worst of it in that trade./ •/The driver of the car got the worst of it in the accident./ Contrast: GET THE BETTER OF(2).

[get through]{v. phr.} 1. To finish. •/Barry got through his homework by late evening./ 2. To pass a course or an examination. •/I got through every one of my courses except mathematics./

[get through one’s head]{v. phr.} 1. To understand or believe. •/Jack couldn’t get it through his head that his father wouldn’t let him go to camp if his grades didn’t improve./ •/At last Mary got it through her head that she had failed to pass the test./ 2. To make someone understand or believe. •/I’ll get it through his head if it takes all night./

[get through to]{v.} To be understood by; make (someone) understand. •/The little boy could not get through to his housemother./ •/Deaf people sometimes find it hard to get through to strangers./ •/When the rich boy’s father lost his money, it took a long time for the idea to get through to him that he’d have to work and support himself./

[get to]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin by chance; begin to. – Used with a verbal noun or an infinitive. •/George meant to save his dollar, but he got to thinking how good an ice cream cone would taste, and he spent it./ •/On a rainy day, Sally got to looking around in the attic and found some old pictures of Father./ •/I got to know Mary at the party./ •/I was just getting to know John when he moved away./ Compare: TAKE TO(2). 2. To have a chance to; be able to. •/The Taylors wanted to go to the beach Saturday, but it rained and they didn’t get to./ •/Did you get to see the king?/ Compare: GET AT(3). 3. See: HAVE TO.

[get to first base] or [reach first base]{v. phr.} To make a good start; really begin; succeed, •/Joe had a long paper to write for history class, but when the teacher asked for it, Joe hadn’t got to first base yet./ •/Suppose Sam falls in love with Betty. Can he even get to first base with her?/ •/George wants to go to college and become a teacher, but I’ll be surprised if he even reaches first base./ •/If you don’t dress neatly, you won’t get to first base when you look for a job./ Compare: FIRST BASE.

[get together]{v.} To come to an agreement; agree. •/Mother says I should finish my arithmetic lesson, and Father says I should mow the lawn. Why don’t you two get together?/

[get-together]{n.} A party; a gathering. •/I hate to break up this nice get-together but we must leave./ •/We manage to have a get-together with our old friends once or twice a year./

[get to the bottom of]{v. phr.} To find out the real cause of. •/The superintendent talked with several students to get to the bottom of the trouble./ •/The doctor made several tests to get to the bottom of the man’s headaches./ Compare: GET TO THE HEART OF.

[get to the heart of]{v. phr.} To find the most important facts about or the central meaning of; understand the most important thing about. •/You can often get to the heart of people’s unhappiness by letting them talk./ •/«If you can find a topic sentence, often it will help you get to the heart of the paragraph,» said the teacher./

[get to the point] See: COME TO THE POINT.

[get two strikes against one] See: TWO STRIKES AGAINST.

[get underway]{v. phr.} To set out on a journey; start going. •/We are delighted that our new Ph.D. program finally got underway./

[get under one’s skin]{v. phr.} To bother; upset. •/The students get under Mary’s skin by talking about her freckles./ •/Children who talk too much in class get under the teacher’s skin./

[get up]{v.} 1. To get out of bed. •/John’s mother told him that it was time to get up./ 2. To stand up; get to your feet. •/A man should get up when a woman comes into the room./ 3. To prepare; get ready. •/Mary got up a picnic for her visitor./ •/The students got up a special number of the newspaper to celebrate the school’s 50th birthday./ 4. To dress up. •/One of the girls got herself up as a witch for the Halloween party./ 5. To go ahead. •/The wagon driver shouted, «Get up!» to his horses./

[get up] or [rise with the chickens]{v. phr.} To rise very early in the morning. •/All the farmers in this village get up with the chickens./ Contrast: GO TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS.

[get-up]{n.} (stress on «get») Fancy dress or costume. •/Some get-up you’re wearing!/

[get-up-and-go] also [get-up-and-get]{n. phr.}, {informal} Energetic enthusiasm; ambitious determination; pep; drive; push. •/Joe has a lot of get-up-and-go and is working his way through school./

[get up on the wrong side of the bed]{v. phr.}, {informal} To awake with a bad temper. •/Henry got up on the wrong side of the bed and wouldn’t eat breakfast./ •/The man went to bed very late and got up on the wrong side of the bed./

[get up the nerve]{v. phr.} To build up your courage until you are brave enough; become brave enough. •/Jack got up the nerve to ask Ruth to dance with him./ •/The hungry little boy got up nerve to ask for another piece of cake./

[get used to] See: USED TO.

[get warmed up] See: WARM UP.

[get what’s coming to one] or {slang}[get one’s]{v. phr.} To receive the good or bad that you deserve; get what is due to you; get your share. •/At the end of the movie the villain got what was coming to him and was put in jail./ •/John didn’t think he was getting what was coming to him, so he quit the job./ •/Mother told Mary that she’d get hers if she kept on being naughty./ Compare: CATCH IT, HAVE IT COMING, SERVE RIGHT.

[get wind of]{v. phr.} To get news of; hear rumors about; find out about. •/The police got wind of the plans to rob the bank./ •/The captain didn’t want the sailors to get wind of where the ship was going./

[get wise]{v. phr.}, {slang} To learn about something kept secret from you; become alert. •/One girl pretended to be sick on gym days when she had athletics, until the teacher got wise and made her go anyway./ – Often used with «to». •/The boys got wise to Jack’s fondness for bubble gum./ •/If you don’t get wise to yourself and start studying, you will fail the course./ Compare: CATCH ON, SEE THROUGH. Contrast: IN THE DARK.

[get with it]{v. phr.}, {slang} To pay attention; be alive or alert; get busy. •/The students get with it just before examinations./ •/The coach told the team to get with it./ Compare: ON THE BALL.

[ghost] See: GIVE UP THE GHOST.

[ghost of a] Least trace of; slightest resemblance to; smallest bit even of; a very little. Usually used with «chance» or «idea» in negative sentences, or with «smile». •/There wasn’t a ghost of a chance that Jack would win./ •/We didn’t have the ghost of an idea where to look for John./ •/The teacher scolded Harold for drawing a funny picture on the chalkboard, but she had a ghost of a smile./ Compare: FAT CHANCE.

[ghost-writer]{n.} A writer whose identity remains a secret and who writes for another who receives all the credit. •/It is rumored that John Smith’s best-selling novel was written by a ghost-writer./

[gift of gab] or [gift of the gab]{n. phr.}, {informal} Skill in talking; ability to make interesting talk that makes people believe you. •/Many men get elected because of their gift of gab./ •/Mr. Taylor’s gift of gab helped him get a good job./

[gild the lily] also [paint the lily]{v. phr.} To add unnecessarily to something already beautiful or good enough. •/To talk about a beautiful sunset is to gild the lily./ •/For the beautiful girl to use makeup would be to gild the lily./ •/Frank’s father is a millionaire, but Frank gilds the lily by saying he is a billionaire./

[gill] See: FED TO THE GILLS at FED UP, GREEN AROUND THE GILLS or PALE AROUND THE GILLS.

[gilt-edged]{adj.} Of the highest quality. •/Government saving bonds are considered by many to be a gilt-edged investment./

[gin mill]{n.}, {slang} A bar where liquor is sold. •/Rush Street in Chicago is full of gin mills./ Syn.: SPEAKEASY.

[G.I.] or ["government issue"]{n.} An American soldier. •/After the war many GI’s were able to get a free education./

[gird one’s loins]{v. phr.}, {literary} To prepare for action; get ready for a struggle or hard work. •/David girded up his loins and went out to meet the giant Goliath./ •/Seniors must gird their loins for the battles of life./

[girl Friday]{n.} A very dependable and helpful female office worker; especially a secretary. •/Miss Johnson is the manager’s girl Friday./ •/There was an advertisement in the newspaper for a girl Friday./

[girl friend]{n.}, {informal} 1. A female friend or companion. •/Jane is spending the night at her girlfriend’s house./ 2. A boy’s steady girl; the girl or woman partner in a love affair; girl; sweetheart. •/John is taking his girl friend to the dance./ Contrast: BOYFRIEND.

[give] See: SILENCE GIVES CONSENT.

[give a buzz] See: GIVE A RING.

[give a cold shoulder] See: COLD SHOULDER.

[give a hand] See: LEND A HAND.

[give a hang] or [care a hang]{v. phr.}, {informal} To have any interest or liking; care. – Used also with other words in the place of «hang», such as «damn», «rap», «straw»; usually used in the negative. •/You can quit helping me if you want to. I don’t give a hang./ •/Some people don’t care a rap about sports./ •/Bruce never goes to the dances; he does not care a straw about dancing./

[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.

[give-and-take]{n. phr.} 1. A sharing; giving and receiving back and forth between people; a giving up by people on different sides of part of what each one wants so that they can agree. •/Jimmy is too selfish. He has no notion of give-and-take with the other children but wants everything for himself./ •/There has to be give-and-take between two countries before they can be friends./ Compare: LIVE AND LET LIVE. 2. Friendly talking or argument back and forth. Friendly sharing of ideas which may not agree; also: an exchange of teasing remarks. •/After the meeting there was a lot of give-and-take about plans for the dance./

[give an ear to] or [lend an ear to]{v. phr.}, {literary} To listen to. •/Children should give an ear to their parents' advice./ •/The king lent an ear to the complaints of his people./

[give a pain]{v. phr.}, {slang} To make (you) disgusted; annoy. •/Ann’s laziness gives her mother a pain./ •/John’s bad manners give his teacher a pain./ Compare: PAIN IN THE NECK.

[give as good as one gets]{v. phr.} To be able to give back blow for blow; defend yourself well in a fight or argument. •/The Americans gave as good as they got in the war with the English./ •/George gave as good as he got in his fight with the older boy./ Compare: EYE FOR AN EYE, GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY.

[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.

[giveaway] or [dead giveaway]{n.} (stress on «give») 1. An open secret. •/By mid-afternoon, it was a dead giveaway who the new boss would be./ 2. A forced or sacrifice sale at which items are sold for much less than their market value. •/The Simpson’s garage sale was actually a big giveaway./ 3. A gift; something one doesn’t have to pay for. •/The tickets to the concert were a giveaway./

[give a wide berth]{v. phr.} To keep away from; keep a safe distance from. •/Mary gave the barking dog a wide berth./ •/Jack gave a wide berth to the fallen electric wires./ •/After Tom got Bob into trouble. Bob gave him a wide berth./

[give birth to]{v. phr.} 1. To bear live offspring. •/The mother gave birth to twin baby girls./ 2. To bring about; create; occasion. •/Beethoven gave birth to a new kind of symphony./

[give chase]{v. phr.} To chase or run after someone or something. •/The dog saw a rabbit and gave chase./ •/The policeman gave chase to the man who robbed the bank./

[give color to] or [lend color to]{v. phr.} To make (something) seem true or likely. •/The boy’s torn clothes gave color to his story of a fight./ •/The way the man ate lent color to his story of near starvation./

[give credence to]{v. phr.} 1. To be willing to believe that something is true. •/Larry gave credence to the rumor that Fred used to be a convict./ •/Give no credence to the rumor that our state is bankrupt; nothing could be farther from the truth./

[give fits]{v. phr.}{informal} To upset; bother very much. •/Paul’s higher grades give John fits./ •/The short guard gave his tall opponent fits./ Compare: GIVE A HARD TIME.

[give forth]{v. phr.} To emit; produce. •/When the gong was struck it gave forth a rich, resounding sound./

[give free rein to] See: GIVE REIN TO.

[give gray hair]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) anxious, confused, or worried. •/The traffic problem is enough to give a policeman gray hairs./ Compare: GET GRAY HAIR.

[give ground]{v. phr.} To go backward under attack; move back; retreat. •/After fighting for a while the troops slowly began to give ground./ •/Although they were outnumbered by the enemy, the men refused to give ground./ Compare: DRAW BACK, DROP BACK, LOSE GROUND. Contrast: HOLD ONE’S GROUND, STAND OFF, STAND ONE’S GROUND, STAND PAT, STAVE OFF.

[give her the gun] See: GIVE IT THE GUN.

[give in]{v.} To stop fighting or arguing and do as the other person wants; give someone his own way; stop opposing someone. •/Mother kept inviting Mrs. Smith to stay for lunch, and finally she gave in./ •/After Billy proved that he could ride a bicycle safely, his father gave in to him and bought him one./ Compare: GIVE UP, SAY UNCLE.

[give it some thought]{v. phr.} To wait and see; consider something after some time has elapsed. •/«Will you buy my car?» Fred asked. «Let me give it some thought,» Jim answered./ Contrast: SLEEP ON.

[give it the gun] or [give her the gun]{v. phr.}, {slang} To gun or speed up a motor; make a car, airplane, or something driven by a motor go faster. •/The race driver gave it the gun./ •/The speedboat pilot gave her the gun./ Compare: STEP ON IT.

[give it to]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give punishment to; beat. •/The crowd yelled for the wrestler to give it to his opponent./ Syn.: LET HAVE IT. 2. To scold. •/Jerry’s mother gave it to him for coming home late./ Compare: GIVE A PIECE OF ONE’S MIND, LACE INTO. Contrast: CATCH IT.

[give it to one straight]{v. phr.} To be direct; be frank. •/I asked the doctor to give it to me straight how long I have to live./

[give no quarter]{v. phr.} To be ruthless and show no mercy. •/The enemy soldiers gave no quarter and shot all the prisoners./

[give notice]{v. phr.} To inform an employer, an employee, a landlord, or a tenant of the termination of a contractual agreement of service or tenancy. •/Max gave notice at the bank where he was working./ •/Sally was given notice by her landlord./

[given to]{adj. phr.} Having a tendency to; addicted to. •/Phil is given to telling fantastic tales about his chateau in France./

[give off]{v.} To send out; let out; put forth. •/Rotten eggs give off a bad smell./ •/Burning leaves give off thick smoke./ Syn.: GIVE OUT(2).

[give of oneself]{v. phr.}, {literary} To give your time and effort to help others. •/You should give of yourself sometimes./ •/During World War II, Governor Baldwin gave of himself by sweeping the halls of a hospital every afternoon./

[give one a dressing down] See: DRESSING DOWN.

[give one a free hand] See: FREE HAND.

[give one a (good) going-over] See: GO OVER(1).

[give one a lift]{v. phr.} 1. To give someone a ride. •/Jack gave me a lift in his new car./ 2. To comfort someone. •/Talking to my doctor yesterday gave me a lift./

[give one an inch, and he will take a mile] If you give some people a little or yield anything, they will want more and more; some people are never satisfied. •/I gave Billy a bite of candy and he wanted more and more. If you give him an inch, he’ll take a mile./ •/The counselor said to Jack, «No, I can’t let you get a haircut until Saturday. It’s against the rules, and if I give an inch, someone will take a mile.»/

[give one a piece of one’s mind]{v. phr.}, {informal} To scold angrily; say what you really think to (someone). •/Mr. Allen gave the other driver a piece of his mind./ •/The sergeant gave the soldier a piece of his mind for not cleaning his boots./ Syn.: TELL OFF. Compare: BAWL OUT, DRESS DOWN, GIVE IT TO, TONGUE LASHING.

[give one a ring] also {informal}[give a buzz] To call on the telephone. •/Mrs. Jacobs promised to give her husband a ring in the afternoon./ •/Alice will give her friend a buzz tonight./

[give one enough rope and he will hang himself]{informal} Give a bad person enough time and freedom to do as he pleases, and he may make a bad mistake or get into trouble and be caught. – A proverb. •/Johnny is always stealing and hasn’t been caught. But give him enough rope and he’ll hang himself./ – Often used in a short form, «give one enough rope». •/Mother didn’t know who robbed the cookie jar, but she thought she could catch him if she gave him enough rope./

[give one pause]{v. phr.} To astonish someone; cause one to stop and think. •/«Your remark gives me pause,» Tom said, when Jane called him an incurable gambler./

[give one short shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT.

[give oneself airs]{v. phr.} To act proud; act vain. •/Mary gave herself airs when she wore her new dress./ •/John gave himself airs when he won first prize./

[give oneself away]{v. phr.} To show guilt; show you have done wrong. •/The thief gave himself away by spending so much money./ •/Carl played a joke on Bob and gave himself away by laughing./ Compare: GIVE AWAY.

[give oneself up]{v.} To stop hiding or running away; surrender. •/The thief gave himself up to the police./ •/Mr. Thompson hit another car, and his wife told him to give himself up./ Compare: TURN IN.

[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.

[give one some of his] or [her own medicine]{v. phr.} To treat someone the way he or she treats others (used in the negative). •/The gangster beat up an innocent old man, so when he resisted arrest, a policeman gave him a little of his own medicine./

[give one’s due]{v. phr.} To be fair to (a person), give credit that (a person) deserves. •/The boxer who lost gave the new champion his due./ •/We should give a good worker his due./ Compare: GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE.

[give one’s right arm for]{v. phr.} To give something of great value; sacrifice. •/During our long hike in the desert, I would have given my right arm for an ice cold drink./

[give one’s word]{v. phr.} To seriously promise. •/«You gave me your word you would marry me,» Mary bitterly complained, «but you broke your word.»/

[give one the eye]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To look at, especially with interest and liking. •/A pretty girl went by and all the boys gave her the eye./ 2. To look or stare at, especially in a cold or unfriendly way. •/Mrs. Jones didn’t like Mary and didn’t speak. She just gave her the eye when they met on the street./

[give one the works] See: THE WORKS.

[give or take]{v. phr.} To add or subtract. Used with a round number or date to show how approximate it is. •/The house was built in 1900, give or take five years./

[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.