6 VERB If someone or something gives you a particular idea or impression, it causes you to have that idea or impression. □ [V n n] They gave me the impression that they were doing exactly what they wanted in life. □ [V n] The examiner's final report does not give an accurate picture.
7 VERB If someone or something gives you a particular physical or emotional feeling, it makes you experience it. □ [V n n] He gave me a shock. □ [V n + to ] It will give great pleasure to the many thousands of children who visit the hospital each year. [Also V n]
8 VERB If you give a performance or speech, you perform or speak in public. □ [V n] Kotto gives a stupendous performance. □ [V n n] I am sure you remember Mrs Butler who gave us such an interesting talk last year.
9 VERB If you give something thought or attention, you think about it, concentrate on it, or deal with it. □ [V n n] I've been giving it some thought. □ [be V -ed + to ] Priority will be given to those who apply early.
10 VERB If you give a party or other social event, you organize it. □ [V n] That evening, I gave a dinner party for a few close friends.
➋ give ◆◆◆ /g I v/ (gives , giving , gave , given )
1 VERB If you give someone something that you own or have bought, you provide them with it, so that they have it or can use it. □ [V n n] They gave us T-shirts and stickers. □ [V n + to ] They gave money to 708 families for school uniforms. □ [V + to ] Americans are still giving to charity despite hard economic times.
2 VERB If you give someone something that you are holding or that is near you, you pass it to them, so that they are then holding it. □ [V n n] Give me that pencil. □ [V n + to ] He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to him.
3 VERB To give someone or something a particular power or right means to allow them to have it. □ [V n + to ] …a citizen's charter giving rights to gays. □ [V n n] The draft would give the president the power to appoint the central bank's chairman.
➌ give ◆◆◆ /g I v/ (gives , giving , gave , given )
→ Please look at categories 11 to 16 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If something gives , it collapses or breaks under pressure. □ [V ] My knees gave under me.
2 V-PASSIVE You say that you are given to understand or believe that something is the case when you do not want to say how you found out about it, or who told you. [FORMAL , VAGUENESS ] □ [be V -ed to-inf] We were given to understand that he was ill.
3 → see also given
4 PHRASE You use give me to say that you would rather have one thing than another, especially when you have just mentioned the thing that you do not want. □ I've never had anything barbecued and I don't want it. Give me a good roast dinner any day.
5 PHRASE If you say that something requires give and take , you mean that people must compromise or co-operate for it to be successful. □ …a happy relationship where there's a lot of give and take.
6 PHRASE Give or take is used to indicate that an amount is approximate. For example, if you say that something is fifty years old, give or take a few years, you mean that it is approximately fifty years old. □ They grow to a height of 12 ins–give or take a couple of inches.
7 PHRASE If an audience is asked to give it up for a performer, they are being asked to applaud. [INFORMAL ] □ Ladies and Gentlemen, give it up for Tom Hanks.
8 to give the game away → see game
9 to give notice → see notice
10 to give rise to → see rise
11 to give way → see way
▸ give away
1 PHRASAL VERB If you give away something that you own, you give it to someone, rather than selling it, often because you no longer want it. □ [V n P ] He was giving his collection away for nothing. □ [V P n] We have six copies of the book to give away.
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone gives away an advantage, they accidentally cause their opponent or enemy to have that advantage. □ [V P n] We gave away a silly goal. [Also V n P ]
3 PHRASAL VERB If you give away information that should be kept secret, you reveal it to other people. □ [V n P ] She would give nothing away. □ [V P n] They felt like they were giving away company secrets.
4 PHRASAL VERB To give someone or something away means to show their true nature or identity, which is not obvious. □ [V n P ] Although they are pretending hard to be young, grey hair and cellulite give them away. [Also V P n (not pron)]
5 PHRASAL VERB In a Christian wedding ceremony, if someone gives the bride away , they officially present her to her husband. This is traditionally done by the bride's father.
▸ give back PHRASAL VERB If you give something back , you return it to the person who gave it to you. □ [V n P + to ] I gave the textbook back to him. □ [V n P n] You gave me back the projector. □ [V n P ] I gave it back politely.
▸ give in
1 PHRASAL VERB If you give in , you admit that you are defeated or that you cannot do something. □ [V P ] All right. I give in. What did you do with the ship?