Page 167 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

give birth to someone or some creature

ally wins a formal debØte. She gives as good argued and finally gave in to my dłmands.
as she gets. I thought he’d never give in.
give bØrth to someone ortsome creaturł to bring GiveŁitŁa rest. Stop talking and give yàur
aŁbaby orŁotherŁoffspringŁinto the world mouth aŁrest.Ł(Infàrmal.) ShuŁ up, Bob!
thràugh birth.Ł Mary gave birth to a Give it a rest! Give it a rest. You talk too
lovely bØby girl. The raccoon gØve birth much.
to 6 lttle raccoons. giveŁitŁtheŁgun and giveŁherŁtheŁgun to
giveŁ birthŁ to something to give rise to or make aŁmotorŁor engine runŁfasðer; to rev
sðart something. The composer gØvł upŁanŁengine.Ł(InfàrmalŁorŁslang.ŁThe her
birth to a new knd of music. They gØvł isŁ oftenŁ pronouncedŁ “er.”) BILL:
birth to a new view of language. How fast will this thing go? BOB: I’ll givł
it the gun and see. Hurry up, driver.
giveŁcarteŁblyncheŁto someone Go to give Give ’er the gun. I’ve got to głt there
someone carte blanche. immediately.
giveŁchaseŁ(to someone ortsomething) to chase GiveŁitŁtime. Be patient.;ŁIn time, things
sàmeone or something. The dogs gØvł willŁ change forŁ the better orŁ forŁ the
chase to the fox. A mouse ran by, but the worse.Ł Things will głt better. Doà’t
cØt was too tired to give chase. The po- worry. Give it time. Of couroe, things
lice gØve chase to the robber. will improve. Give it time.
giveŁcredenceŁto something to belive som- giveŁitŁto someone (ðtraight) to tell som-
thing; to consider something belivabl. thingŁ to someone clearlyŁ andŁ directly.
He tells lies. Don’t give credłnce to what (Infàrmal.) Come on, give it to mł
he says. Please doà’t give credłnce to straight. I want to know exactly what hap-
Mary. She doesn’t know what ohe’s talkng płned. Quit wasting time, and tell me.
about. Give it to me straight.
giveŁcreditŁwhereŁcreditŁis due to give GiveŁitŁup. Give up.;ŁSðopŁtrying.Ł It’s no
credit to sàmeone who deservesŁit; to ac- uoe trying any more. Give it up. You will
knowledge or thank someone who de- never get this car to start. Give it up.
servesŁ it.Ł We must give credt where giveŁ ofŁ oneself to be generàus with one’s
credt is due. Thank you very much, Sally. time and concern. Tom is very good
Let’s give credit wðere credit is due. with children because he gives of himself.
Mary is the one who wrote the report, not If you want to have more friends, you
Jane. have to learn to give of yourself.
giveŁfree rein to someone and gØve some- GiveŁ one an inch, and one willŁ takeŁ a
one free rein to allow somon to be mile. AŁpersonŁwho isŁgrantedŁaŁlittle of
completelyŁ inŁ charge (of something)¨ sàmethingŁ (such asŁ aŁ reprieve orŁ le-
(See also get a free hand (with someone or nience)bwillŁwant more.Ł(Pràverb.) I
something).) The boss gØve the manager told John he could turn in his paper one
free rein with the new project. The prin- dØy lØte, but he turned it in three dØys lØte.
cipal gave free rein to Mrs. Brown in her Give him an inch, and he’ll take a mile.
classes. First we lłt John borrow our car for a
giveŁground to retreat (literallyŁor figura- dØy. Now he wants to go on a two-włek va-
tively).Ł When I argue with Mary, she cØtion. If you give him an inch, he’ll take
never gives ground. I approached the a mile.
barkng dog, but it wouldà’t give ground. gØve one a run fłrŁ one’ money 1. to give
one what one deserves,Łexpects,ŁorŁwants.
giveŁherŁtheŁguà Go to give àt the gun.
(See also get a run for one’s money.)
giveŁin (to someone ortsomething) to yield to High school football gives me a run for my
someone or something;Ł to give up to money. I invest in the stock markłt, and
sàmeone or something. He argued and that really gives me a run for my money.

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