give them over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "give them over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of handing something to someone else or transferring responsibility. Example: "After much consideration, I decided to give them over to the new manager for better handling."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"So the more control we can give them over the network, the better".

The New York Times - Tech

The scientists pooled 834 studies from 87 countries and seven national datasets to give them over a million subjects.

The Guardian

One ten-minute conversation with some vegetable-sellers ends with Mr Lavoie agreeing to give them over $8,000 to fix up their stalls.

The Economist

"We'll give them over the pattern if they agree to do more work, which, in the end, is beneficial to the city," he said.

The New York Times

"If I was a rich man I'd be going round the ground right now handing back part or all of their entrance fee - because they've deserved far more than we've been able to give them over the course of this 10 days," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

The more control you give them over how you represent them, the more likely they are to trust your application and want to use it more.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

In primitive times some attempted to appease what they believed to be a hostile, vengeful god by sacrificing their children, giving them over to be slaughtered on altars.

Huffington Post

austerity program gives them over Greek fiscal and economic changes.

The New York Times

Then we systematically unwound those controls, gave them over to players in some way," says Petursson.

The Guardian - Tech

At least in the past, they have been happy to use the leverage this gives them over their downstream neighbours.

The Economist

Whether Rockstar's disputes are legitimate or not are not the real issue but the kind of power that it gives them over other companies.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "give them over" when you want to convey a sense of relinquishing control or responsibility to another party, often with a connotation of trust or obligation. Ensure the context makes it clear who 'them' refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "give them over" when a more neutral term like "hand over" or "transfer" would be more appropriate. The phrase can sometimes imply a more significant or impactful transfer than intended, so consider the specific nuance you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "give them over" is as a verb phrase, where "give" is the main verb and "them over" functions as an adverbial particle construction specifying the direction or nature of the giving. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "give them over" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to indicate the transfer of something to another party. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not extremely common, it appears across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, consider the specific nuance you intend to convey, as "give them over" can imply a significant transfer of control, responsibility, or possession. Be mindful of the connotation and choose the most appropriate term based on your desired level of formality and the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hand them over

Implies a direct physical transfer or relinquishing of control, often with a sense of obligation or necessity.

turn them over

Suggests a transfer of responsibility or handling to another party.

entrust them to

Highlights a sense of trust and confidence in the recipient.

surrender them to

Indicates a forced or reluctant transfer, often to an authority.

cede them to

Implies a formal or legal transfer of rights or property.

relinquish them to

Emphasizes the act of voluntarily giving up control or possession.

transfer them to

A general term for moving something or someone to another's control or possession.

pass them on to

Suggests a continuation of a process or cycle by transferring responsibility.

yield them to

Indicates submission or compliance in handing something over.

assign them to

Implies a formal allocation of responsibility or tasks to someone.

FAQs

What does "give them over" mean?

The phrase "give them over" generally means to transfer control, responsibility, or possession of something or someone to another party. It can also imply surrendering something, sometimes reluctantly.

When is it appropriate to use "give them over"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the act of entrusting someone or something to another party, often implying a formal or significant transfer of responsibility. Be sure that the pronoun 'them' is clear in context.

What can I say instead of "give them over"?

You can use alternatives like "hand them over", "turn them over", or "entrust them to" depending on the context.

Is "give them over" formal or informal?

The phrase is relatively neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts depending on the specific situation and the surrounding language. However, more formal alternatives might be preferable in highly professional settings.