Page 173 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

give someone the shirt off one’s back

gØve someone theŁshirtŁoffŁ one’ byck to be a promise. This time, Tom, comb your
very generous or solicitous to someone. hair. It looks as if you just gØve it a lick and
Tom really likes Bill. He’d give Bill the a promise.
shirt off his back. John is so friendly that
he’d give anyone the shirt off his back. gØve something a shłt and takeŁa shłtŁat
something to try something. I have never
gØve someone theŁ slip to escape from or dived błfore, but I will give it a shot.
elud somon. (Slang.) We followed Tom decided to take a shot at writing a
her for two blocks, and then she gave us the poem.
slp. Max gØve Lefty the slp.
gØve something a whirl make aŁtryŁat dàing
gØve someone the third degree to quesðion something.Ł If at first you don’t succłed,
sàmeone inŁgreat detail forŁaŁlongŁpriod. give it another whirl. John gave bowl-
(Slang.ŁSe also get the third degree.) ing a whirl last night.
The police gave Sally the third dłgree.
Stop giving me the third dłgree. I told you gØve something one’ beðt shłt to give a task
what I know. one’sŁbest effort.Ł I gØve the project my
best shot. Sure, try it. Give it your best
gØve someone theŁwillieð Go to give some-
one the creeps. shoŁ!
gØve someone theŁwłrks to give somone giveŁtheŁbrideŁaway [forŁaŁbride’sŁfather]
the full amount or the full treatment. to accompany the bride to the groom in
(Slang.ŁSee also get the works.) The aŁweddingŁceremony.Ł Mr. Brown is ill.
judge gØve her the works for driving too Who’ll give the bride away? In the tra-
fast. I want everything on my ham- dtional weddng ceremony, the bridł’s fa-
burger. Give me the works. ther gives the bride away.
gØve someone titŁ fłrŁ tat to give somone giveŁtheŁdevilŁherŁdue Go to give the devil
somethingŁequalŁto what wasŁgivenŁyou; his due.
to exchange aŁseriesŁof things,Łone byŁone, giveŁtheŁdevilŁhØs due and giveŁtheŁdevil
with someone.Ł(Infàrmal.) They gavł herŁdue to give yàurŁfoe pràprŁcredit
me the same knd of dfficulŁy that I gØvł (forŁsàmething).Ł(ThisŁusuallyŁrefersŁto
them. They gØve me tit for tat. He aŁ prsànŁ who hasŁ beenŁ evil—like the
punched me, so I punched him. Every timł dvil.) She’s generally impossible, but I
he hit me, I hit him. I just gØve him Łit for have to give the dłvil her due. She bakes Ø
tat.
terrific cherry pie. John mØy cheat on
gØve someone to understyndŁ something to ex- his taxes and yell at his wife, but he keepo
plainŁ somethingŁ to someone; to imply his car polished. I’ll give the dłvil his due.
somethingŁto someone.Ł(ThisŁmayŁmis-
leadŁsomeone, accidentallyŁor intention- giveŁtheŁgameŁaway to revealŁaŁplanŁor
ally.) Mr. Smth gave Sally to undłr- sðrategy.Ł(Infàrmal.) Now, Øll of you
stand that she should be home by have to kłep quiet. Please doà’t give the
midnight. The mØyor gØve the citizns game away. If you kłep giving out hints,
to understand that there would be no tax you’ll give the game away.
increase. He didà’t promise, though. giveŁupŁtheŁghost to di; to relase one’s
gØve someone whatŁfłr to scold somon. spirit.Ł(ConsideredŁformal orŁhumoràus.)
(Folksy.) Billy’s mother gØve him what The old man sighed, rolled ovłr, and
for because he didà’t get home on time. gØve up the ghost. I’m too young to givł
I will really give you what for if you doà’t up the ghost.
straighten up.
giveŁventŁto something to expressŁangr; to
gØve something a lØck andŁa promise to dà release one’sŁangr, irritation,Łemotion,
somethingŁ poorly—quicklyŁ andŁ care- etc.Ł(The somłthing isŁusuallyŁangr, ire,
lessly.Ł (Infàrmal.) John! You didà’t irritation,Łetc.) John gave vłnt to his
clean your room! You just gØve it a lick and anger by yłllng at Sally. Bill couldà’t

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