give over

USAGE SUMMARY

"give over" is a valid phrase in English which is mostly used as an imperative meaning "Stop it!".
For example: Give over, you two! Stop arguing!.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

JH: Give over!

The Guardian - Music

"Give over!" he squeals.

The Guardian

That's fair warning; give over to it, or be grumpy.

The New York Times

So we shouldn't give over our keys to anyone.

The Guardian - Tech

Together that could give over 500p a share".

The Guardian - Business

"That was a very foreign feeling to give over to 100 percent," he added.

The New York Times

After these tasks were accomplished, Aeëtes still refused to give over the fleece.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That's a lot of time and energy to give over to a dumbshow.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Thus, it seems that the reports from specialized hospitals do not give over-optimistic results but that similar results can be obtained in different institutions.

Acta Orthopaedica

The same small data set being used for constructing the prediction model and subsequently evaluating the prediction performance tends to give over-optimistic estimates.

BMJ Open

This step doesn't include prescriptions, because before taking prescriptions you should give over-the-counter products a try first.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "give over" to mean 'stop it', ensure the context is informal, as it is often perceived as colloquial.

Common error

Avoid using "give over" in formal writing or professional settings, as it can sound out of place. Opt for more formal alternatives like "cease" or "desist" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "give over" functions primarily as an imperative (meaning 'stop it') or to indicate the transfer of possession or dedication of something. Ludwig AI confirms its varied usage in contexts ranging from informal commands to formal descriptions of resource allocation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

12%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "give over" is a versatile phrasal verb with several meanings, including 'stop it', 'hand over', 'surrender', and 'dedicate'. As Ludwig AI points out, its interpretation is highly context-dependent. While the imperative use is generally informal and common in British English, other meanings appear in more neutral or formal registers. It's primarily used in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Wiki. Remember to consider your audience and purpose when choosing whether "give over" is the most appropriate phrase. Be mindful of the potential for misinterpretation and ensure clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop it

This alternative is a direct command to cease an action, similar to one meaning of "give over".

quit it

This alternative is another informal way to tell someone to stop doing something.

cease

This alternative provides a more formal way to express the act of stopping or desisting.

hand over

This alternative focuses on the act of transferring possession or control.

surrender

This alternative implies yielding or relinquishing something, often under pressure.

dedicate

This alternative emphasizes committing oneself or resources to a specific purpose.

devote

Similar to 'dedicate', this alternative focuses on allocating time or resources to something.

relinquish

This alternative suggests giving up something voluntarily or unwillingly.

entrust

This alternative implies placing something in someone else's care or responsibility.

abandon

This alternative suggests leaving something behind, often permanently.

FAQs

How can I use "give over" in a sentence?

You can use "give over" to mean 'stop it', as in, "Give over, you two! Stop arguing!". Alternatively, it can mean to hand over or dedicate something, such as "They had to "give over" their car parks to farmers' markets."

What does "give over" mean?

"Give over" has multiple meanings, including 'stop it', 'hand over', 'surrender', or 'dedicate'. The specific meaning depends on the context in which it is used.

Is it correct to say "gave over" instead of "given over"?

Both "gave over" and "given over" are correct, but they represent different verb tenses. "Gave over" is the simple past tense (e.g., "He "gave over" the keys"), while "given over" is the past participle, often used with auxiliary verbs (e.g., "The land has been "given over" to farming").

What's the difference between "hand over" and "give over"?

While both phrases can mean to transfer something, "hand over" generally implies a physical transfer, while "give over" can also imply dedicating or surrendering something, in addition to physical transfer. For instance, "hand over the money" suggests a physical transfer, while ""give over" your time" suggests dedicating time to a cause.