give a man rope enough and he will hang himself
Given enough freedom, someone will inevitably make a mistake
English · UK & Ireland 1001
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Expressions you’ll hear in Britain and Ireland — distinctly British usage first, then widespread staples.
give a monkey's
care little about something
give a rat's arse
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give a rip
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give a sneck posset
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give as good as one gets
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give away the farm
To give up too much or make excessive concessions
give away the store
To give too much or make excessive concessions
give back
return something to its owner
give birth
To produce or create something new
give chase
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give credit where credit is due
Acknowledge someone's contribution or achievement
give curry
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give dome
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give ear
Listen to someone or something
give face
to show respect or save someone's dignity
give head
to give attention or priority
give heed
Pay attention to something or someone
give him an inch and he will take a mile
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
give in
To surrender or yield to someone or something
give it a red-hot crack
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give it one's best shot
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give it the big one
to give something your best effort
give it the gun
to accelerate or increase speed
give life to
to make something more interesting or exciting
give lip
to express insincere support or agreement
give me a break
Stop bothering or annoying me
give notice
Inform an employer of one's intention to leave a job
give one's all
To exert maximum effort or energy
give one's head a shake
to stop being foolish or unrealistic
give oneself airs
Behave as if one is superior to others
give out
to distribute or provide something
give pause
To cause someone to stop and think
give someone a bloody nose
to defeat or humiliate someone
give someone a break
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone a hand
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone a hard time
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone a piece of one's mind
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone a ring
to call someone on the phone
give someone a shout
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone a speaking to
Scold or reprimand someone
give someone an earful
scold or reprimand someone strongly
give someone an inch and someone will take a mile
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone beans
to give someone very little or almost nothing
give someone enough rope
To give someone the freedom to make mistakes or take risks
give someone grey hair
to cause someone significant stress or worry
give someone grief
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone Hail Columbia
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone hell
to scold or criticize someone severely
give someone line
to give someone a small amount of attention or encouragement
give someone something to think about
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone the bag
to dismiss or reject someone
give someone the boot
to dismiss or expel someone
give someone the brush-off
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone the business
to deceive or cheat someone
give someone the chair
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone the cold shoulder
Deliberately ignore or show indifference to someone
give someone the creeps
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
give someone the eye
to look at someone in a flirtatious or inviting way
give someone the heave-ho
to dismiss or reject someone