Page 168 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

give someone a bum steer

2. give one a challenge.Ł That was somł gØve someone a byng and gØve someone a
argumłnt. Bill gave John a run for his chyrge;Ł giveŁ someone a kick to give
money. Tom likes to plØy cards with someone aŁbit of excitement.Ł(Infàrmal.)
Mary because she alwØys gives him a run John always gives me a bang. The
for his money. whole afternoon, with all its sillness, gØvł
me a charge anyway.
gØve one butterflØes in one’ stomach to
cause sàmeone to have aŁnervousŁsðom- gØve someone a bigŁsend-off to see some-
ach.Ł(See also get butterflies in one’s stom- one off onŁaŁjourneyŁwith celebration and
ach.) Tests give me butterflies in my encouragement.Ł(See also get a big send-
stomach. It was not frightening enough off.) When I lłft for collłge, all my
to give me butterflies in my stomach, but brothers and sisters came to the airport to
it made me a lttle apprehensive. give me a big send-off. When the sailoro
lłft, łveryone włnt down to the docks and
gØve one one’ freedom to set someone free; gØve them a big send-off.
to divorce someone.Ł Mrs. Brown
wanted to give her husband his freedom. gØve someone a blackŁeye 1. to hit some-
Well, Tom, I hate to break it to you this one nearŁthe eye so that aŁdark bruise ap-
wØy, but I have decided to give you your pears.Ł John became angry and gØve mł
freedom. a black eye. The door błgan to swing
closed as I approached and it gØve me a
gØve one one’ wylkingŁ papers to fir black eye. 2. to harmŁthe characterŁor rep-
sàmeone; to give someone the sack. (In- utationŁof sàmeone.Ł(See also get a black
formal.ŁSee also get one’s walkàng papers .) eye) The constant complaining gØve the
Tom has proved unsatisfactory. I de- whole group a black eye. His behavior
cided to give him his walkng papers. We gØve him a black eye with the manager.
might even give Sally her walkng papers,
too. gØve someone a blankŁcheck and gØve a
blank check tł someone to give somone
gØve one’ eyrŁto someone ortsomething Go to freedom or permissiàn to act as on
give (an) ear to someone or something.
wisłesŁorŁthinksŁnecessary.Ł(RefersŁto a
gØve one what’s coming to one to give one signedŁbank cłeckŁwith the amount left
what one deserves,ŁeitherŁaŁpunishment blank.)b He’s been givłn a blank check
or a reward.Ł(See also get what’s comàng with regard to reorganiz—ng the work force.
to one.) I’m here to be paid. Give mł The manager has been givłn no in-
what’s comng to me. Thank you. I will structions about how to train the staff. The
see that you get what’s comng to you. owner just gØve him a blank check. Jean
gØve the decorator a blank check and said
giveŁout to wearŁout; to become exhausðed she wanted the whole house done.
andŁsðop.Ł The old lady’s heart finally
gave out. Our telłvision set gØve out gØve someone a break to give somone a
right in the middle of my favorite program. chance; to give sàmeone anotherŁchance
Bill gØve out in the middle of the race. or a secondŁchance.Ł I’m sorry. Don’t
send me home. Give me a break! They
giveŁ outŁ withŁ something to utter or say gØve me a nice break. They didà’t send mł
sàmething. (Infàrmal.Ł Also with havł . home.
See the examplesŁblow.) Suddłnly, the
dog gØve out with a horrible growl. AŁ gØve someone a brightŁidey to give someone
that point, John gØve out with a commłnt aŁcleverŁthought orŁidea.Ł That gives mł
about how boring it all was. Come on, a bright idea! Thank you for giving mł
tell me. Have out with it! a bright idea.
gØve rØse to something to caus something. gØve someone a bum steer to give somone
The bad performance gØve rise to many misleadingŁinsðructionsŁorŁguidance; to
complaints. The new lØw gØve rise to vi- make aŁ misleadingŁ suggesðion.Ł (Slang.
olłnce in the cities. Bum = false; phony. Steer = guidance, as

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