giveaway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "giveaway" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to something that is given for free, often as part of a promotion or contest. An example: "The store is hosting a giveaway for the new product." Alternative expressions include "freebie," "complimentary item," and "prize."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In total, around three-quarters of the cash giveaway goes to households in the top half of the income distribution and just 1% of the cost of the policy is actually spent on lifting people out of income tax.

The Guardian - Opinion

Sixty quid is a lot to pay for any friendly when you can see most competitive football in this country much more cheaply, though it is the pre-season bit that is the dead giveaway.

The Guardian - Sport

Mason says that he can't think of a better musician to work with, given Yorke's history with In Rainbows – a giveaway he says artists have struggled to repeat at a similar scale, at least until U2's recent iTunes giveway (more on that later).

The Guardian - Tech

Nicholas Shaxson is the author of Treasure Islands: Tax Havens and the Men Who Stole the World, and an associate fellow of Chatham House The chancellor is right to resist a major giveaway – either by cutting taxes or increasing expenditure.

The Guardian - Opinion

But if, say, £2bn-worth of shares attract the bonus, that's a £200m giveaway.

The Guardian - Business

His reluctance to accept your generous offer of meeting his ex is a giveaway.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In an ideal world, George Osborne would be sitting in the Treasury putting the finishing touches to a nice, fat giveaway budget.

The Guardian

Other findings included: 29% of boys chose a food or drink linked with a movie or sports personality they liked, compared to 19% of girls 40% of boys chose a fast food outlet because of a special offer or giveaway with the meal, compared to 30% of girls 25% of boys chose a snack food or soft drink to enter a competition or win a prize, compared to 15% of girls.

The Guardian

Ian Birrell worked as a speechwriter for David Cameron in the 2010 election campaign George Osborne's tax giveaway to big corporations, with aggressive cuts to corporate tax rates and new corporate tax loopholes, is quack medicine built on economic fallacies.

The Guardian - Opinion

Their policies don't even boost supply sufficiently; merely fuelling demand through the help-to-buy Isa giveaway and extending right to buy to housing associations.

The Guardian

The Independent's front page headline is Cameron banks on Thatcher's legacy while the i goes with "The great social housing giveaway".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "giveaway" to refer to promotional events or items offered for free, or to describe something that inadvertently reveals information.

Common error

Avoid writing "give away" (two words) when referring to a promotional event. "Give away" is a phrasal verb meaning to relinquish or donate. Use the single word "giveaway" as a noun.

Linguistic Context

The word "giveaway" functions primarily as a noun, denoting something offered for free or an event where items are distributed without charge. It can also refer to something that inadvertently reveals information. As shown in Ludwig, both uses are valid and commonly encountered.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "giveaway" is a common and versatile noun used to describe both promotional events and inadvertently revealed secrets. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions grammatically correct, fitting seamlessly into diverse writing styles. It is frequently employed in news and media reporting, alongside formal business settings. The word's versatility and wide usage make it an essential addition to any writer's vocabulary. Remember to distinguish "giveaway" (one word) from the phrasal verb "give away" (two words) to maintain clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

freebie

Refers specifically to something received without charge or effort.

free offering

Highlights the act of providing something at no cost.

complimentary item

Emphasizes that the item is provided as a courtesy or favor.

promotional gift

Focuses on the item being part of a marketing strategy.

special promotion

Emphasizes the event or activity, where items are given away.

apparent disclosure

Highlights the revealing aspect of the word.

obvious indication

Similar to the revealing aspect, but focused on pointing something out.

unveiling

Focus on revealing, not on something being 'free'.

game show

Specific instance of a giveaway, narrower meaning

cash handout

Implies more substantial value than some giveaways

FAQs

What does "giveaway" mean?

A "giveaway" refers to something given away for free, often as a promotion, or something that unintentionally reveals a secret.

How can I use "giveaway" in a sentence?

You can use "giveaway" to describe an event (e.g., "The company is hosting a "promotional gift"") or something revealing (e.g., "His nervousness was a "obvious indication" of his guilt").

What are some synonyms for "giveaway" when it means something free?

Alternatives include "freebie", "complimentary item", or "promotional gift".

When should I use "giveaway" versus "give away"?

"Giveaway" (one word) is a noun referring to something given for free. "Give away" (two words) is a verb phrase meaning to donate or reveal. For example, "They will "freebie" some items" vs. "Don't "apparent disclosure" the surprise!"