Page 171 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

give someone credit (for something)

organiztion of the work force. The sunrise, it gives me pause. Witnessing an
managłr has been givłn no instructions accidłnt is likely to give all of us pause.
about how to train the staff. The owner gØve someone someŁskin [forŁtwo people]
just gØve him carte blanche. Jean gavł to touch two handsŁtogther inŁaŁspecial
carte blanche to the decorator and said she greeting, like aŁhandshake.Ł(Slang.ŁOne
wanted the whole house done.
handŁmayŁbe slappedŁdàwn onŁtopŁof the
gØve someone creditŁ(forŁ something) to praise other, orŁtheyŁmay be slappedŁtogether
or recognize someone for doing some- palmŁto palmŁwith the armsŁheldŁverti-
thing.Ł The coach gave Mary a lot of cally. UsuallyŁsaid asŁaŁcommand.) Hey,
credt. The director gave John mucð Bob, give me some skn! Come over herł,
credt for his fine performance. you guys. I want you to młet my brother
and give him some skn!
gØve someone free rein Go to give free reàn
to someone. gØve someone theŁair to ignore sàmeone; to
dismissŁsàmeone.Ł(See also get the air.)
gØve someone głoseŁbumps and gØve some- Tom always gives me the air. Is there some-
one głoseŁpimples to caus someone to thing wrong with me? Why is she giv-
have prickly or bumpy skin owing to ex- ing him the air? What did he do?
citement orŁfear.Ł It was a scary movie
and it gØve me goose bumps. I hate be- gØve someone theŁax and gØve someone the
ing in that old house. It gives me goose sack to fire sàmeone; to terminate sàme-
pmples. one’sŁ employment.Ł (See also get the
sack.) I gØve Tom the sack, and he has
gØve someone głoseŁ pimples Go to give to find a new job. I had to give three
someone goose bumps.
people the ax yesterdØy. We are having to
gØve someone grayŁhair(s) to cause some- reduce our office staff.
one’sŁ hairŁ to turnŁ grayŁ fràmŁ sðressŁ or gØve someone theŁbenefitŁofŁtheŁdoubt to
frusðration.Ł(UsuallyŁanŁexpression of fear make aŁ judgment inŁ someone’sŁ favor
that one’sŁhairŁwillŁturnŁgray.) My three whenŁ the evidence isŁ neitherŁ forŁ nor
teenage boys are giving me gray hair. against the prsàn.Ł(See also get the ben-
Your behavior is giving me gray hairs.
efit of the doubt.) I’m glad the teacher
gØve someone hell Go to give someone the gave me the benefit of the doubt. Please,
devil. judge. Give me the błnefit of the doubt.
gØve someone ortsomething a wideŁberth to gØve someone theŁbłot to dismissŁsàmeone;
keep a reasonable distance from someone to kick sàmeone out (of a place). (Slang.
orŁsomething;Łto steer clear (of someone See also get the boot.) You had błtter
or something). (OriginallyŁreferredŁto sail- behave, or they’ll give you the boot. I
ingŁships.) The dog we are approach- will give him the boot if he doesn’t
ing is very mean. Better give it a widł straighten up.
berth. Give Mary a wide berth. She’s n gØve someone theŁbrush-off to send som-
a very bad mood.
one away; to reject sàmeone.Ł(Slang.)
gØve someone ortsomething theŁ(łld)Łheave- Tom wouldà’t talk to her. He just gØve her
hł to throw someone orŁsàmethingŁout; the bruoh-off. Please don’t give me the
to get rid of someone or something; to brush-off!
fire someone.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁSee also get the gØve someone theŁ bum’s rush to hurry
(old) heave-ho.) We gave Jane the old sàmeone into leaving;Łto usłerŁsàmeone
heave-ho todØy. John was behaving out of aŁ place quickly. (As someone
badly at our party, so my father gØve him might quicklyŁescort aŁvagrant fràmŁa
the heave-ho. This chair is complłtely fancyŁresðaurant.) The young customer
worn out. Shall I give it the old heave-ho?
in the jewelry store was being givłn the
gØve someone pyuse to cause someone to bum’s rush, so he pulled out an enormouo
sðop andŁthink.Ł When I oee Ø golden roll of bills and the clłrk became mucð

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