aration: Methadone is addictive, too, but it doesn’t give the pleasurable “rush ” that heroin addicts speak of. give someone the bum’s rush—(sl.) throw smb. out or dismiss unceremoniously: That I was given the bum’s rush is under- standable under the circumstances, but not excusable for a fellow in the hospitality business. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase bum rush something—(sl.) stampede or crash into an area: Police “bum rushed ” the house where they found the gun they say is Jamison’s. give someone a shake • give someone the shake give someone a shake—(coll.) 1. shake a sleeper to rouse him: I thought he was sleeping, so I gave him a shake to wake him up. 2. rouse smb. to action: Danny was not playing as well as he is now at the start of the season. We needed some way to give him a shake . 3. make a person suffer a nervous shock: It gave me such a shake as I never had before; I haven’t felt like myself ever since. Note: The expression is not related in meaning to the phrase give someone a fair shake—(coll.) give smb. fair treatment: The man did not believe that the judge would give him a fair shake at his trial. give someone the shake—(coll.) get away or escape from a person without his noticing: “Do you think he followed you?” “I gave him the shake in the crowd.” give someone a shake-down • shake someone down give someone a shake-down—provide smb. with an impro- vised sleeping accommodation: You can give him a shake- down here to-night, can’t you? Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase give someone a shake-up—1. make a person suffer a nervous shock: Don’t disturb her. Let her sleep. That accident gave her a nasty shake-up . 2. rouse a person to action: It gave me a shake-up and I half heartedly started swimming and doing weights in the house. shake someone down—(U.S. sl.) 1. extort money from smb. by threats or deception: If someone has money and won’t share, everyone else will shake him down . 2. search a person (for weapons, drugs, etc): I can not tell you how many times police officers sniffed out something “wrong” with me and shook me down . Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase shake someone up—1. = give someone a shake-up 1: The whole experience quite shook me up though, I don’t drink and drive but I felt quite panicky at being pulled over…. 2. = give someone a shake-up 2: Maybe it’s time to shake him up a bit. This is a very touchy situation, given that you have a child together. give someone a thick ear • give someone one’s ear give someone a thick ear—slap a person on his ear, especially as a punishment: He’d give you a thick ear if he heard you say that. Or Rosie would. Sam’s too polite. give someone one’s ear—(formal) listen attentively to a per- son; pay close attention to smb.’s words: If I was struggling with a decision he gave me his ear and some advice. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase give someone an earful—(coll.) 1. give smb. a severe scolding: I gave him an earful for not having a fire extinguisher, because he should know better. 2. provide some information to a person: I didn’t know much about literature … but he gave me an earful each and every day. give someone a ticking-off • tick someone off give someone a ticking-off—(coll.) scold or reprimand a per- son: The referee gave Mike a ticking-off . Not that he cared. tick someone off—1. put a mark by smb.’s name on a list: I ask each kid one question, ticking them off as they answer. 2. mark smb. as a potential object for vengeance or hostility: If anyone starts fault-finding he is immediately “ticked off .” 3. = give someone a ticking-off: He was “ticked off ” by one of the boys for leaving his car unlocked and complete with ignition key. 4. (U.S. sl.) annoy or anger a person: It ticks me off when I have to study and somebody makes noise. give someone a tip • give someone a tip-off give someone a tip—1. give a gift of money to a waiter, porter, etc.: I gave him a tip , a small one, because I try to be nice to the people who make me angry. 2. provide a person with priv- ileged information likely to bring useful results: Some politi- cians gave him a tip that Prohibition was starting to lose ground. give someone a tip-off— = give someone a tip 2: A while ago a guy I met gave me a tip-off about a secluded beach some- where in Goa. give someone an idea • give someone ideas give someone an idea—give a person a general notion of smth.: I will now give you an idea of the type of thing you will be required to do. give someone ideas—(also: put ideas into someone’s head) give smb. a falsely high opinion of oneself: Mrs. Serafino was not effusive in her thanks to the girl. It might give her ideas . give someone five • give someone high five give someone five—(coll.) 1. (also: give someone a hand) help a person: Hey, give me five over here for a minute, will ya? 2. slap smb.’s raised palm in greeting or as a congratulation: Reno put out his hand for me to give him five . give someone high five— = give someone five 2: The guy at the door said goodnight and Billy turned around and gave him high five . See also: take five / take the fifth. give someone freedom • give someone his freedom give someone freedom—1. allow a person to do what he wants: They gave him freedom to go anywhere on his scooter pro- vided he informed them first. 2. (of a prisoner or slave) make free: Augustus in a dearth, gave freedom to twenty thousand slaves. give someone his freedom—1.= give someone freedom 2: They were in favor of arming the negroes, putting them in the Southern army, and at the same time giving them their free - dom . 2. agree to a divorce: It seems foolish not to give John his freedom ; if that’s what he really wants. give someone lip • give someone lip service give someone lip—(sl.) talk in a rude or disrespectful way to a person: “I was doing a practical session in a hospital,” he said, “and one of the patients was giving me lip .” give someone lip service—give smb. verbal expression of sup- port, etc. not backed up by action: Each time they are very sympathetic but nothing happens. I got the idea they were just giving me lip service . give someone one’s word • give someone the word give someone one’s word—1. give one’s promise to a person: I’ll help you in any way I can — I give you my word . 2. express one’s assurance to a person: I give you my word that my brother did not leave a shilling to his son. give someone the word—1. indicate one’s intentions to smb.: Any time you need any additional help just give us the word . 2. command a person to do smth.: The man stood bolt upright before me until I gave him the word to stand at ease. 3. = give give someone a shake – 144 –