give someone or something away

give someone or something away
give someone or something away
to reveal a secret about someone or something. •

I thought no one knew where I was, but my loud breathing gave me away.

We know that Billy ate the cherry pie. The cherry juice on his shirt gave him away.

I had planned a surprise, but John gave away my secret.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • give someone or something a wide berth — give (someone or something) a wide berth : to avoid or stay away from (someone or something) I could see that she was in a bad mood, so I gave her a wide berth. • • • Main Entry: ↑berth give (someone or something) a wide berth see ↑berth, 1 • • • …   Useful english dictionary

  • give someone away — give (someone/something) away to tell or show something that is private or secret. She didn t want us to know she was upset, but the look on her face gave her away. I haven t seen the movie yet, so don t give away the ending. Usage notes: said… …   New idioms dictionary

  • give something away — give (someone/something) away to tell or show something that is private or secret. She didn t want us to know she was upset, but the look on her face gave her away. I haven t seen the movie yet, so don t give away the ending. Usage notes: said… …   New idioms dictionary

  • give someone/thing a wide berth — stay well away from someone or something. → berth …   English new terms dictionary

  • give someone a wide berth — give something a wide berth they learned to give those gang members a wide berth Syn: avoid, shun, keep away from, stay away from, steer clear of, keep at arm s length, have nothing to do with; dodge, sidestep, circumvent, skirt around …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • give away — 1) PHRASAL VERB If you give away something that you own, you give it to someone, rather than selling it, often because you no longer want it. [V n P] He was giving his collection away for nothing... [V P n (not pron)] We have six copies of the… …   English dictionary

  • give someone/something a wide berth — AVOID, shun, keep away from, stay away from, steer clear of, keep at arm s length, have nothing to do with; dodge, sidestep, circumvent, skirt round. → berth * * * see berth …   Useful english dictionary

  • give — give1 [ gıv ] (past tense gave [ geıv ] ; past participle giv|en [ gıvn ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 provide someone with something ▸ 2 make someone owner of something ▸ 3 put medicine in someone ▸ 4 cause effect/experience ▸ 5 communicate ▸ 6 perform action …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • give — [c]/gɪv / (say giv) verb (gave, given, giving) –verb (t) 1. to deliver freely; bestow; hand over: to give someone a present. 2. to deliver to another in exchange for something; pay. 3. to pass over to: give me that book, please. 4. to grant… …  

  • give — I [[t]gɪ̱v[/t]] USED WITH NOUNS DESCRIBING ACTIONS ♦ gives, giving, gave, given 1) VERB: no cont You can use give with nouns that refer to physical actions. The whole expression refers to the performing of the action. For example, She gave a… …   English dictionary

  • give a wide berth — steer (a ship) well clear of something while passing it ships are advised to give a wide berth to the Outer Banks ■ figurativestay away from someone or something I d sworn to give women a wide berth * * * give (someone or something) a wide berth …   Useful english dictionary

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