given (redirected from givens)

given to doing something

likely to do something; inclined to do something habitually. Mary is given to singing in the shower. Bob is given to shouting when things don't go his way.

See also: doing

given to understand

[of someone] made to believe [something]. (See also give someone to understand.) They were given to understand that there would be no tax increase, but after the election taxes went up. She was given to understand that she had to be home by midnight.

See also: understand

Nothing is given so freely as advice.

Prov. People will give you advice more willingly than they give you anything else. Although no one in my family was willing to give me a loan, they all had suggestions about how I could get the money from elsewhere. Nothing is given so freely as advice. Don't hesitate to ask people what they think you ought to do. Nothing is given so freely as advice.

See also: advice, nothing

---

a God-given right

if someone thinks they have a God-given right to do something, they think they should be allowed to do it even if other people do not like it (often + to do sth) He seems to think he has a God-given right to tell us all what to do.

See also: right

get the axe  also be given the axe

1. if a person gets the axe, they lose their job Senior staff are more likely to get the axe because the company can't afford their high salaries.

2. if a plan or a service gets the axe, it is stopped My research project was the first thing to be given the ax when the new boss took over.

See also: axe, get

get the chop  also be given the chop

1. (British informal) if a person gets the chop, they lose their job Anyone who argued with the foreman was liable to be given the chop.

2. (British informal) if a plan or a service gets the chop, it is stopped Our local bus service got the chop, so I have to walk to work or use the car.

See also: chop, get

given half a/the chance  (informal)

if someone would do something given half a chance, they would certainly do it if they had the opportunity He'd steal from his own grandmother, given half the chance. Given half a chance I'd leave this job today.

See also: chance, half

---

given half a chance

allowed any opportunity Given half a chance, most writers would rather talk about a project than work on it.

Usage notes: also used in the form give someone/something half a chance: If we give Geoff half a chance, he could paint that kind of portrait.

See also: chance, half

given to doing something

to be likely to do something Members of the academic community are given to attending meetings and conferences.

Usage notes: usually used after be, as in the example