ll 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. [give pause] {v. phr.} To cause you to stop and think; make you doubt or worry. * /The heavy monthly payments gave Mr. Smith pause in his plans to buy a new car./ * /The bad weather gave Miss Carter pause about driving to New York City./ [give place to] See: GIVE RISE TO. [give rein to] or [give free rein to] {v. phr.} To remove all restrictions or limitations from someone or something. * /When she wrote her first mystery novel, the talented novelist gave rein to her imagination./ [give rise to] {v. phr.} To be the reason for; cause. * /A branch floating in the water gave rise to Columbus' hopes that land was near./ * /John's black eye gave rise to rumors that he had been in a fight./ [give someone his rights] or [read someone his rights] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. The act of advising arrested criminals that they have the right to remain silent and that everything they say can be held against them in a court of law; that they have the right to the presence of an attorney during questioning and that if they can't afford one and request it, an attorney will be appointed for them by the State. * /The cops gave Smith his rights immediately after the arrest./ 2. To sever a relationship by telling someone that he or she can go and see a divorce lawyer or the like. * /Sue gave Mike his rights before she slammed the door in his face./ Compare: READ THE RIOT ACT. [give the air] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(1). [give the ax] {v. phr.}, {colloquial} 1. Abruptly to finish a relationship. * /She gave me the ax last night./ 2. To fire an employee in a curt manner. * /His boss gave John the ax last Friday./ [give the benefit of the doubt] {v. phr.} To believe (a person) is innocent rather than guilty when you are not sure. * /The money was stolen and John was the only boy who had known where it was, but the teacher gave him the benefit of the doubt./ * /George's grade was higher than usual and he might have cheated, but his teacher gave him the benefit of the doubt./ [give the bounce] or [give the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. or [give the air] To stop being a friend or lover to (a person); separate from. * /Mary gave John the bounce after she saw him dating another girl./ * /Bill and Jane had an argument and Bill is giving her the gate./ 2. or [give the sack] also [give the hook] To fire from a job; dismiss. * /The ball team gave Joe the gate because he never came to practice./ Contrast: GET THE BOUNCE. [give the creeps] See: THE CREEPS. [give the devil his due] {v. phr.} To be fair, even to someone who is bad; tell the truth about a person even though you don't like him, * /I don't like Mr. Jones, but to give the devil his due, I must admit that he is a good teacher./ [give the gate] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE. [give the glad eye] {v. phr.}, {slang} To give (someone) a welcoming look as if saying "come over here, I want to talk to you." * /I was surprised when Joe gave me the glad eye./ [give the go-by] {v. phr.} To pay no attention to a person; avoid. * /John fell in love with Mary, but she gave him the go-by./ * /The boy raised his hand to answer the question, but the teacher gave him the go-by./ Compare: THE RUNAROUND. [give the high sign] See: HIGH SIGN. [give the hook] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(2). [give the lie to] {v. phr.}, {literary} 1. To call (someone) a liar. * /The police gave the lie to the man who said that he had been at home during the robbery./ 2. To show (something) to be false; prove untrue. * /The boy's dirty face gave the lie to his answer that he had washed./ [give the sack] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(2). [give the shirt off one's back] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give away something or everything that you own. * /He'd give you the shirt off his back./ [give the show away] {v. phr.} To reveal a plan or information that is supposed to be secret. * /You have read further in the book than I have, but please don't tell me where the treasure was buried; otherwise you'd be giving the show away./ [give the slip] {v.} To escape from (someone); run away from unexpectedly; sneak away from. * /An Indian was following, but Boone gave him the slip by running down a hill./ * /Some boys were waiting outside the school to beat up Jack, but he gave them the slip./ [give signs of] See: SHOW SIGN(S) OF; SHOW NO SIGN OF. [give the willies] {v. phr.} To cause someone to be uncomfortable, fearful, or nervous. * /Sue hates to camp out in a tent; the buzzing of the mosquitoes gives her the willies./ [give thought to] {v. phr.} To consider; think about. * /Have you given any thought to the question of how to sell Grandpa's old house?/ Contrast: GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT. [give to understand] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make a person think that something is true but not tell him; suggest; hint. * /Mr. Johnson gave Billy to understand that he would pay him if he helped him clean the yard./ 2. To make a person understand by telling him very plainly or boldly. * /Frank was given to understand in a short note from the boss that he was fired./ [give up] {v.} 1a. To stop trying to keep; surrender; yield. * /The dog had the ball in his mouth and wouldn't give it up./ * /Jimmy is giving up his job as a newsboy when he goes back to school./ Compare: GIVE ONESELF UP, HAND OVER, LET GO(1a). Contrast: HOLD ON TO. 1b. To allow; permit. * /Ford gave up two walks in the first inning./ 2. To stop doing or having; abandon; quit. * /The doctor told Mr. Harris to give up smoking./ * /Jane hated to give up her friends when she moved away./ Compare: LEAVE OFF, PART WITH. 3. To stop hoping for, waiting for, or trying to do. * /Johnny was given up by the doctors after the accident, but he lived just the same./ * /When Mary didn't come by nine o'clock, we gave her up./ * /I couldn't do the puzzle so I gave it up./ 4. To stop trying; quit; surrender. * /The war will be over when one of the countries gives up./ * /The other team gave up after we scored three touchdowns./ Compare: GIVE IN(2), RESIGN ONESELF, THROW IN THE SPONGE. [give (one) up for] {v. phr.} To abandon hope for someone or something. * /After Larry had not returned to base camp for three nights, his fellow mountain climbers gave him up for dead./ [give up the ghost] {v. phr.} To die; stop going. * /After a long illness, the old woman gave up the ghost./ * /The motor turned over a few times and gave up the ghost./ [give up the ship] {v. phr.} To stop fighting and surrender; stop trying or hoping to do something. * /"Don't give up the ship, John," said his father when John failed a test./ [give voice] {v. phr.}, {formal} To tell what you feel or think; especially when you are angry or want to object. - Used with "to". * /The students gave voice to their pleasure over the new building./ * /Little Willie gave voice to his pain when the dog bit him by crying loudly./ Compare: CRY OUT, SPEAK OUT. [give way] {v.} 1. To go back; retreat. * /The enemy army is giving way before the cannon fire./ Compare: FALL BACK. 2. To make room, get out of the way. * /The children gave way and let their mother through the door./ Compare: MAKE WAY. 3. To lose control of yourself; lose your courage or hope; yield. * /Mrs. Jones didn't give way during the flood, but she was very frightened./ Compare: GIVE UP, LOSE ONE'S HEAD. 4. To collapse; fail. * /The river was so high that the dam gave way./ * /Mary's legs gave way and she fainted./ Compare: GIVE OUT(4), LET GO(1a). 5. To let yourself be persuaded; give permission. * /Billy kept asking his mother if he could go to the movies and she finally gave way./ Compare: GIVE IN. [give way to] {v. phr.} 1a. To make room for; allow to go or pass; yield to. * /John gave way to the old lady and let her pass./ 1b. To allow to decide. * /Mrs. Rogers gave way lo her husband in buying the car./ 1c. To lose control of (your feelings), not hold back. * /Timmy gave way to his feelings when his dog died./ 2. or [give place to]. To be replaced by. * /Radio has given way to television in popularity./ * /When she saw the clowns, the little girl's tears gave way lo laughter./ [glad hand] {n.}, {informal} A friendly handshake; a warm greeting. * /Father went to the front door to give Uncle Fred the glad hand when he arrived./ * /The politician went down the street on election day giving everyone the glad hand./ [glad rags] {n.}, {slang} Clothes worn to parties or on special occasions; best clothes. * /Mrs. Owens put on her glad rags for the party./ Compare: BEST BIB AND TUCKER. [glance] See: AT FIRST GLANCE or AT FIRST SIGHT. [glance off] {v. phr.} To ricochet. * /The bullet glanced off the wall and wounded an innocent bystander./ [glass] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES, SAFETY GLASS. [glasses] See: LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES. [glass jaw] {n.}, {slang} The inability of a boxer to get a hard punch on the jaw without being knocked out; a tendency to be knocked out easily. * /He would have been champion except for his glass jaw./ [globe-trotter] {n.} One who has travelled far and wide. * /Tim and Nancy are regular globe-trotters; there are few countries they haven't been to./ [glory] See: IN ONE'S GLORY. [gloss over] {v.} To try to make what is wrong or bad seem right or not important; try to make a thing look easy; pretend about; hide. * /Billy broke a window and Mother tried to gloss it over by saying it wouldn't cost much to have it fixed, but Father spanked Billy anyway./ * /John glossed over his mistake by saying that everybody did the same thing./ [glove] See: FIT LIKE A GLOVE, HAND IN GLOVE or HAND AND GLOVE, HANDLE WITH GLOVES. [glutton for punishment] {n. phr.} A greedy person; someone who wants too much of something, such as food or drink, which will make him sick. * /Fred eats so much red meat that he is a regular glutton for punishment./ [go] See: