give away
2 meanings
give something to someone for free
What does "give away" mean in this sense?
Examples
- The company is giving away free samples outside the supermarket this weekend.
- We had so many old books that we gave them away to a local library.
- Are they really giving tickets away for free, or is there a catch?
How to use it
The most common pattern, used when the object is a longer noun phrase or when you want to keep the verb and particle together.
The café is giving away free coffee to celebrate its opening.
Short noun objects are very commonly placed between the verb and particle, especially in informal speech.
She had too many plants, so she gave a few away to her neighbours.
Pronouns must always go between the verb and particle — this is not optional.
We had hundreds of extra tickets, so we gave them away outside the venue.
The passive form is natural, especially when talking about promotions or events where who is giving is less important.
Hundreds of free meals were given away at the charity event last Saturday.
Used to talk about future intentions, often in promotional or personal contexts.
They're going to give away signed copies of the album at the concert.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between the verb and the particle. Placing it after 'away' is ungrammatical in English.
"Give away" also means to reveal a secret or piece of information. When your object is something like 'the answer', 'the ending', or 'the surprise', it sounds like you are revealing it — not distributing it for free. Make sure the context and object clearly show that something is being given at no cost.
'Give out' simply means to distribute or hand items to people — it doesn't say anything about price. 'Give away' specifically means the items are free. If you want to emphasise that something costs nothing, use 'give away'.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English, from casual conversation to advertising. The noun form 'giveaway' (written as one word) is also very common, especially in marketing and social media.
accidentally tell a secret or share information you should keep private
Sense 2: What does "give sth away" mean?
Examples
- Don't give away the ending — I haven't seen the film yet!
- She tried to look calm, but her eyes gave her away.
- He gave away nothing during the interview, which made the journalists frustrated.
How to use it
The most common pattern, with the object placed between 'give' and 'away'. This is especially preferred with short noun phrases.
Please don't give the ending away — some people haven't read the book yet.
When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'give' and 'away'. Placing it after 'away' is always wrong.
She was trying to act normally, but her nervous laugh gave it away.
With longer or more complex objects, keeping 'give away' together before the object sounds more natural.
The trailer gives away too much information about the story.
The subject is often not a person but something like a look or a tone of voice that accidentally reveals information.
His hesitation gave the whole plan away.
The passive form is possible and appears in writing such as reviews or articles, though the active form is more common.
The surprise was given away before the party even started.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'her', it must come between 'give' and 'away'. Putting it after 'away' is ungrammatical in English.
The same phrasal verb can also mean to give something to someone for free, which is a completely different meaning. If your sentence involves secrets, hidden feelings, or plot details, you're using the 'reveal' sense. If it involves physical items or money being handed over, that's a different sense.
'Let slip' focuses on a brief, careless spoken moment where someone accidentally says something they shouldn't. 'Give away' has a wider range — the thing revealing the secret can be body language, a facial expression, or a tone of voice, not just something spoken.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and equally common in speaking and writing. The subject is often not a person but something like a facial expression or tone of voice that accidentally reveals information, e.g. 'Her voice gave her away.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'give away' always need an object?
In this sense, yes — you normally need to say what is being given for free. You can drop the object only if it is already completely clear from the conversation, for example if someone asks 'What are they doing with those sandwiches?' and you reply 'They're giving them away.' Without that context, always include the object.
What is a 'giveaway' and is it related to this phrasal verb?
Yes, 'giveaway' (one word) is a noun that comes directly from 'give away'. It refers to an event or promotion where things are offered for free, for example 'Enter our giveaway to win a prize!' You'll see this word a lot in advertising and on social media. It's a very useful word to know alongside the phrasal verb.
Is it natural to say 'free' and 'give away' together, like 'giving away free samples'?
Yes, this is very natural and extremely common, especially in advertising and promotions. Technically, 'give away' already implies something is free, so saying 'free' is a bit redundant — but native speakers do it all the time for emphasis. You'll hear and read phrases like 'giving away free tickets' or 'giving away a free trial' constantly.
Can 'give away' be used for digital things, like apps or ebooks?
Absolutely. 'Give away' works well for anything that can be transferred to someone at no cost, including digital products. For example, 'The author is giving away the first chapter as a free download' or 'They gave away 10,000 free copies of the app in the first week' are both perfectly natural.
Can I use 'give away' when talking about donating things to charity?
Yes, this is one of the most common uses. When you donate old clothes, food, or belongings to people or organisations who need them, 'give away' fits perfectly — for example, 'We gave away most of our furniture before moving abroad.' The key is that you receive nothing in return, which is true of donations.
Does 'give away' always mean the person revealed the secret on purpose?
No — in this sense, it usually means the revelation was accidental or unintentional. The person (or thing) giving away the information often didn't mean to. That's why it works with subjects like a facial expression or a nervous laugh, which reveal things without anyone choosing to.
Can a thing — not a person — be the subject of 'give away'?
Yes, and this is very common. Things like body language, a smile, a tone of voice, or even a trailer for a film can give something away. For example: 'His silence gave it away' or 'The music in the film gave the ending away.'
What does 'give the game away' mean?
'Give the game away' is a fixed expression meaning to accidentally reveal a secret plan or trick. For example, if you're planning a surprise and someone sees the decorations, that gives the game away. It's a very common and natural collocation.
What does 'give nothing away' mean?
'Give nothing away' describes a person whose face, words, or behaviour reveal absolutely no information about what they're thinking or feeling. For example: 'She kept a straight face and gave nothing away.' It's often used to describe someone who is very calm and hard to read.
Can I use 'give away' in a film or book review?
Yes, it's very natural in reviews. Writers often warn readers that they won't give the ending or the twist away. For example: 'I don't want to give the plot away, but the ending is very surprising.' It works equally well in speaking and writing.
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