Give-up The Ghost for Dummies

Question

Give-up The Ghost for Dummies

verb

What does Give-up The Ghost really mean?

55 1

Revised and Fact checked by Jane Smith on 2023-10-29 07:22:14

Detailed info

Give-up The Ghost In a sentece

Learn how to use Give-up The Ghost inside a sentece

After several attempts, the car finally gave up the ghost and stopped working altogether.
During the soccer match, one of the players got injured and had to give up the ghost, meaning they had to leave the game.
The old computer was struggling to function, and it eventually gave up the ghost, refusing to turn on anymore.
My phone battery was low, and it gave up the ghost in the middle of an important call.
The worn-out shoes had been used for years and finally gave up the ghost, falling apart completely.

Word Category

Give-up The Ghost Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

buy the farm cash in one's chips choke conk croak decease die drop dead exit expire go kick the bucket pass pass away perish pop off snuff it

Give-up The Ghost Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

change state turn

Give-up The Ghost Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.

abort asphyxiate buy it drown fall famish pip out predecease starve stifle succumb suffocate yield

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score 55 · Accepted Answer

Sure, I'd be happy to explain what "give up the ghost" means. It's actually a pretty interesting phrase that has a couple of different meanings depending on how it's used. Let's explore both of them, shall we?

Meaning 1:

When someone says "give up the ghost," it usually means that they are saying goodbye to something or someone. It's like when you have a toy that is broken and doesn't work anymore, so you decide to get rid of it. You're saying goodbye to that toy because you know it can't be fixed or used anymore.

Similarly, when we say "give up the ghost" in a figurative sense, it means that someone is letting go of a situation, idea, or even a relationship that they know is not going to work out or be successful. It's like admitting to yourself that something is not worth pursuing and deciding to move on. It might be difficult to say goodbye, but sometimes it's the best thing we can do for ourselves.

Meaning 2:

Now, there's another meaning of "give up the ghost" that comes from an older usage of the phrase. In the past, people used to believe that when someone died, their soul or spirit would leave their body and go to another place. So, when someone would pass away, it was said that they had "given up the ghost." It's a way to explain the moment when a person's life energy or breath stops and their body becomes lifeless.

Nowadays, we don't often use this meaning in everyday conversation. Instead, it is more commonly used in books or movies to create a dramatic effect. But it's always good to know about the historical origins of a phrase.

So, to summarize, "give up the ghost" can mean saying goodbye to something or someone in a figurative sense, like letting go of a broken toy or letting go of a situation that isn't working out. It can also refer to someone passing away, where their spirit or life energy leaves their body. Both meanings have their own significance and can be used in different contexts. So, the next time you hear someone say "give up the ghost," you'll have a better understanding of what they mean.