Phrasal verbs with give

When you think of give, you probably picture handing something to another person. This basic idea of transferring or releasing something flows through most phrasal verbs with give, but the particles add important directions and nuances.

Some combinations focus on the direction of transfer. Give back means returning something to where it started, whilst give away involves transferring ownership completely, often for free. Give out follows a similar pattern when you distribute things to multiple people, like giving out leaflets on the street.

Other phrasal verbs with give express the idea of releasing or producing something. Your phone might give off heat when it overworks, or a lamp gives out bright light. Similarly, when your energy is completely spent, you give out – you've released all your strength.

The concept of surrender appears in several meanings too. When you give in, you stop resisting someone's demands. Give up works similarly – you abandon an activity or stop trying to achieve something. You might give up smoking or give up your seat on the bus.

Sometimes give phrasal verbs involve accidental release. If you give away a secret, you reveal information you meant to keep hidden. This connects to the basic idea of give – something leaves your control and goes elsewhere, whether you intended it or not.