give someone a Mickey Finn • take the mickey out of someone give someone a Mickey Finn—(Underworld) add a sleeping drug to smb.’s drink in order to rob, etc.: He heard a claim that Rudolph was killed by New York waiters who gave him a Mickey Finn . take the mickey out of someone—make fun of a person: The national papers seemed to think that it took the mickey out of country people, while the Norfolk people thought it ridiculed Londoners! give someone a nice time • give someone a hard time give someone a nice time—(also: show someone a nice time) 1. be very attentive and friendly to smb.: They are very interested to hear of my tour and do anything to give me a nice time . 2. is used with a sexual connotation: This was my first visit and it was fun. A girl named Venassa was very friendly and gave me a nice time . give someone a hard time—(also: give someone a rough time) 1. create a difficult or unpleasant situation for smb.: I started going out of my way to avoid the people who were giving me a hard time . 2. rebuke or reprimand a person: I figured it was an awkward enough episode as it was, and I felt no need to give him a hard time about it. give someone a pain • give someone pain give someone a pain—1. cause smb. physical pain: The pred- nisone gave her a pain in her liver and stomach, she could not eat, and she lost all her energy. 2. (also: give someone a pain in the neck) annoy or irritate a person: What would I want to go up to Florence Leaming’s for? She gives me a pain . give someone pain—1. = give someone a pain 1: Then after a while I sat up, which gave me pain , for I felt as if I had been beaten all over. 2. make a person feel upset or unhappy: I think of memories that gave me pain . It reminds me of how life goes on after a storm. give someone a pat on the back • give someone a pat on the shoulder give someone a pat on the back—express appreciation of smb.’s performance, competence, etc.: He never gave me a pat on the back . I mean, I wanted him to recognize me—to be proud of me. Cf.: give oneself a pat on the back—congratulate oneself on getting a good job done, etc.: If I could dive like that — well, I’d give myself a big pat on the back . give someone a pat on the shoulder—draw a person’s attention to smth.: This article just gave me a tap on the shoulder and made me realize how long I have been single. It has been years! give someone a push • give someone the push give someone a push—1. shove a person: Just at the edge of the well, he gave him a push and threw him into it. 2. said of an act of pushing smb.’s car: Our car was stuck and they gave us a push . 3. (coll.) promote smb.’s advancement; assist a per- son: I was including his business on my newsletters just to give him a push . 4. (sl.) dismiss a person from employment: I just recall a few months ago when it looked like they were going to give him a push . give someone the push— = give someone a push 4: If he doesn’t resign after this term—which he won’t—we’ll just have to give him the push . give someone a ride • take someone for a ride give someone a ride—offer a person a ride on a horse, bicycle, etc.: Five children, who helped catch two thieves, are to be given a ride in a police panda car. take someone for a ride—1. = give someone a ride: When the weather is nice and she feels up to it I take her for a ride . I like to drive, and I like to have her beside me. 2. (sl.) mislead or swindle a person (also: take someone for a sleigh ride): Don’t give them any money until you have seen the goods. They may be taking you for a ride . 3. (Underworld) take a person on a car journey with the intention of murdering or kidnap- ping: No one would ever know whether he had quietly faded into voluntary oblivion or had been “taken for a ride .” give someone a run • give someone the run give someone a run—(coll.) 1. see whether smb. is suitable for a job, etc. by letting the person do it for a short time: She’s not someone I would normally date, but I’ll give her a run . 2. offer a strong challenge or competition to a person: John came in second but certainly gave her a run for most sales this quarter. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase give someone a run for his money—1. give someone a run 2: There was no obvious Democratic candidate poised to give Kyl a run for his money . 2. derive much satisfaction in return for one’s outlay or efforts: Well if anything has ever given me a run for my money , this morning definitely took the cake. give someone the run—(of ) give a person permission to use smth. freely: Frank generously gave me the run of his extensive library. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase give someone the runs—(coll.) cause diarrhea: These pills won’t help and only give her the runs . give someone a run-down • run someone down give someone a run-down —(coll.) give a person a brief survey of facts (also: give someone a run-through): After she gave me a rundown of her “typical day,” it was apparent why she was exhausted. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase run it down to someone—(U.S. sl.) describe or explain a sit- uation; tell a person the whole truth about smth.: I tried to figure out the best way to run it down to this girl that they didn’t have to live in this town. run someone down—1. (also: run someone over) knock smb. to the ground with a vehicle (usually Passive): He was run down by a vehicle operated by another member of the staff. 2. speak of a person in a disparaging or critical manner: I wish you’d stop running me down all the time. I resent it, and I won’t stand for it. 3. find or capture smb. after a long search or chase: The airport police finally ran him down at the far end of the Lost Luggage hangar. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the adjectival phrase run down—exhausted and weak: The doctor said I was completely run down and I need to change my lifestyle. give someone a run-through • run someone through give someone a run-through —(coll.) give a person a brief sur- vey of facts (also: give someone a run-down): I asked Dr. Leake (my mentor here) to give me a run-through on some critical astronomy concepts. run someone through—pierce or stab smb., as with a sword, etc.: Thorn is the tough, gritty warrior who wouldn’t think twice to run someone through , especially when her life is on the line. give someone a rush • give someone the bum’s rush give someone a rush —(sl.) 1. bestow lavish attention on a girl or woman: An actor gives her a mild rush , and she dreams of a glamorous life with him. 2. give a person a feeling of exhil- – 143 – give someone a rush