bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

John Millen

If someone tells you  not to give up the ghost, what are you supposed to do?   The verb 'to give' has a basic meaning we all understand. But what about the many phrases that involve 'to give' where the meaning is not obvious? Let's give 'to give' some serious thought
Work out the meanings
Select the correct meaning of these phrasal verbs.
1 to give something up as a bad job
a) to stop doing something because you feel it's not worth continuing
b) to give someone a gift you know they won't like
2 to give your eye-teeth for something
a) to go to the dentist when you have a bad toothache
b) to want to have something very much
3 to give someone a dirty look
a) to look at someone in a disapproving way
b) to spill a drink down someone
4 to give someone the elbow
a) to wear a T-shirt with short sleeves
b) to end a relationship with your boyfriend or girlfriend
5 to give someone food for thought
a) to buy someone an expensive dinner
b) to make someone think very seriously about something
6 to give the game away
a) to play a game which you know you hate playing
b) to spoil a surprise by telling someone something that should have been a secret
7 to give up the ghost
a) to stop trying to do something because you've decided you won't succeed
b) to tell someone that you are very afraid
8 to give someone hell
a) to be very, very sarcastic with someone
b) to be very, very angry with someone
What would you say?
Sort out the word order for the answers to these questions and statements.
1 Do you mind if I go to the cinema with Peggy and not you tonight?
(don't / I / two / hoots / give)
2 My new boyfriend is wonderful. He's handsome. He's rich. He has a big car.
(it / give / rest / a)
3 When can we see each other again?
(week / give / next / bell / a / sometime / me)
4 I'm not going out with him because he's rich. I find him such an interesting person.
(me / that / give / don't)
5 What are you going to say to her?
(home! / I'm / give / to / going / get / I / when / her)
6 What do you think of your new boss?
(me / jitters / gives / he / the)
7 How are you getting on with your husband's mother?
If I saw her in the street, (day / I / the / wouldn't / her / give / time / of)
8 Will you try and finish this design for me?
(give / I'll/ a / whirl / it)What would you say?
A bit of gap filling
Put the missing word into these sentences so they make sense.
1 My dad will give me _______________ when he finds out what I've done.
2 My last boyfriend burst into tears when I gave him the _______________
3 I knew I would never get better at learning the piano so I've given up the _______________
4 What you've told me has given me some _______________ for thought. Perhaps I should change my mind.
5 What have I done wrong? Why did you give me such a dirty _______________ just now?
6 I don't know what I've done wrong at work. My boss gave me the cold _______________ all last week.
7 I would give my _______________ to be as clever as my brother.
8 Please don't tell dad what we've bought him for Christmas. Last year you gave the _______________ away and spoiled the surprise.
What are you saying?
1 Give me a bell some time next week.
a) Buy me a present next week.
b) Phone me next week.
2 Don't give me that!
a) Don't expect me to believe what you are saying because I know it isn't true.
b) Don't speak to me in that tone of voice.
3 I'm going to give her when I get home!
a) I'm going to show her how pleased I am when I get home.
b) I'm going to be very angry with her when I get home.
4 He gives me the jitters.
a) He makes me feel very happy.
b) He makes me feel very nervous.
5 You can do what you want. I don't give two hoots.
a) You can do what you want. I don't care.
b) You can do what you want. I will support you.
6 I wouldn't give her the time of day.
a) I wouldn't bother to ever speak to her.
b) I wouldn't ask her what time it was.
7 Oh, give it a rest!
a) Oh, don't look so bored!
b) Oh, stop talking about that!
8 Yes, okay. I'll give it a whirl.
a) Okay. I'll try and do it.
b) Okay. I'll change my mind.
Answers
Correct meaning: 1a / 2b / 3a / 4b / 5b / 6b / 7a / 8b
Missing word: Hell / elbow / ghost / food / look / shoulder / eye-teeth / game
What are you saying? 1b / 2a / 3b / 4b / 5a / 6a / 7b / 8a
Word order: I don't give two hoots / Give it a rest / Give me a bell sometime next week / Don't give me that / I'm going to give her when I get home! / He gives me the jitters / I wouldn't give her the time of day / I'll give it a whirl



Don't give up the ghost