| Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary 1,755,205,678 visitors served. |
|
Dictionary/ thesaurus | Medical dictionary | Legal dictionary | Financial dictionary | Acronyms | Idioms | Encyclopedia | Wikipedia encyclopedia | ? |
give up the ghost |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Acronyms, Wikipedia | 0.06 sec. |
|
give up the ghost Euph. to die. (Fixed order. Often used to describe machines breaking down.) The old man gave up the ghost. My poor old car finally gave up the ghost. give up the ghost 1. to stop trying to do something because you know that you will not succeed She'd been trying to break into acting for ten years without success and was just about to give up the ghost. 2. (humorous) if a machine gives up the ghost, it stops working We've had the same television for fifteen years and I think it's finally about to give up the ghost. give up the ghost 1. to die My great-grandfather gave up the ghost a week after moving into a nursing home. 2. to stop operating He had not been to town since spring because his car had given up the ghost. 3. to stop trying She'd been trying to break into acting for ten years without success and was just about to give up the ghost. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
|
| ? References in classic literature |
|---|
Impressed with this idea, I was about to relinquish my hold and give up the ghost with a good grace, when I was arrested by the cry of the Angel, who bade me hold on. The fireflies, too, which sparkled most vividly in the darkest places, now and then startled him, as one of uncommon brightness would stream across his path; and if, by chance, a huge blockhead of a beetle came winging his blundering flight against him, the poor varlet was ready to give up the ghost, with the idea that he was struck with a witch's token. |
| Idioms and phrases |
| Free Tools: |
For surfers:
Free toolbar & extensions |
Word of the Day |
Help
For webmasters: Free content | Linking | Lookup box | Double-click lookup | Partner with us |
|---|