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Meaning of give up the ghost in English
Give up the ghost.
- buy the farm idiom
- depart this life idiom
- those whom the gods love die young idiom
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Translations of give up the ghost
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be spoiling for a fight
to be very eager to fight or argue
Vast, mahoosive and monstrous (Words meaning ‘very large’)
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Definition of give up
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Examples of give up in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'give up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near give up
give up on (someone or something)
Cite this Entry
“Give up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give%20up. Accessed 12 Oct. 2023.
Kids Definition
Kids definition of give up, more from merriam-webster on give up.
Nglish: Translation of give up for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of give up for Arabic Speakers
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The Origin Of The Phrase Give Up The Ghost
Have you ever heard someone use the phrase, "Give up the ghost ?" Maybe you have, but there's also a good chance you haven't. It's not really a common idiom that arises in conversation anymore, but you may have seen it pop up in various works of literature from centuries past. It sounds creepy, doesn't it? Still, what does it mean when someone "gives up the ghost?" Are we referring to someone who is holding an actual apparition hostage? Are we demanding that they release the paranormal entity from forced captivity? Someone should really give an explanation already.
Well, the meaning of the phrase is quite simple and almost self-explanatory: to give up the ghost means to die, according to The Free Dictionary by Farlex . So in a sense, we are talking about releasing a ghost from captivity — our own ghost from the captivity of our own bodies — and death is the key to the prison.
Where did the phrase originate?
Like so many other phrases that have been casually woven into common vernacular over centuries past, "give up the ghost" traces its origins all the way back to The Holy Bible . In the Book of Job (4:10), the exact dialogue reads, "Man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost" (per The Free Dictionary by Farlex ). The explanation is right there in the words leading up to the phrase — death. Man dies and wastes away, and his ghost is relinquished unto the ether.
It appears again in Mark 15:37 when, after suffering immensely upon the cross, "Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost." According to The Grammarist , the widespread use of the phrase in common language likely started to proliferate sometime in the 1600s after The King James Bible was published and made available to the masses.
Modern usage of the phrase
If you're a fan of Radiohead , you might already recognize the phrase from one of their more popular songs in recent years. " Give Up the Ghost " appeared on the band's 2011 album " The King of Limbs ." True to Radiohead form, the track seems to invoke something unnerving from within, yet somehow manages to comfort the listener at the same time. "Give Up the Ghost" is more or less the perfect song to give up the ghost to.
Musicians seem to be rather keen on the phrase. " Give Up the Ghost " is also the title of Folk/Indie Rock singer Brandi Carlile's 2009 studio album. It's hard to argue that it doesn't make for a good song/record title, but songwriters alone certainly don't hold precedence over the timeless idiom. In 2004, author Hilary Mantel chose "Giving Up the Ghost: A Memoir" as the title for her own autobiography (via Goodreads ).
Definition of 'to give up the ghost'
- to give up the ghost
Examples of 'to give up the ghost' in a sentence to give up the ghost
Browse alphabetically to give up the ghost.
- to give something a body swerve
- to give something houseroom
- to give the game away
- to give vent to
- to give way
- to give your word of honour
- All ENGLISH words that begin with 'T'
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idiom Add to word list to die humorous If a machine gives up the ghost, it stops working: Our old TV had finally given up the ghost. UK to stop trying to do something because you know that you will not succeed: All I'd cherished from early childhood had been denied me, so I simply gave up the ghost. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
1. Of a person, to die. Based on how the nurses are talking, it sounds like Great Uncle Edmund is going to give up the ghost sooner than later. 2. Of a machine, to stop working. Can you get a new coffee pot while you're at the mall? Ours has finally given up the ghost. 3. To abandon some task because it seems doomed.
1 : to yield control or possession of : surrender forced to give up his job 2 : to desist from : abandon refused to give up her efforts 3 : to declare incurable or insoluble 4 a : to abandon (oneself) to a particular feeling, influence, or activity gave himself up to despair b : to devote to a particular purpose or use 5 : to despair of seeing
Well, the meaning of the phrase is quite simple and almost self-explanatory: to give up the ghost means to die, according to The Free Dictionary by Farlex. So in a sense, we are talking about releasing a ghost from captivity — our own ghost from the captivity of our own bodies — and death is the key to the prison. Where did the phrase originate?
English Dictionary Sentences Grammar Definition of 'to give up the ghost' to give up the ghost phrase [VERB inflects] If someone gives up the ghost, they stop trying to do something because they no longer believe they can do it successfully. If a machine gives up the ghost, it stops working . [informal]