give a promise • give promise give a promise—undertake to do or not to do smth.: He gave a promise that he would come again and bring assistance, and he kept it. give promise—1. be a token of smth.; indicate smth. before- hand: A heavy mist gave promise of a hot day, and it turned out a “scorcher.” 2. show qualities that give hope of success or good results: These children don’t give much promise . give an eye to someone • give someone the eye give an eye to someone—look after a person; give attention to smb.: Now go into the garden and give an eye to the chil- dren. give someone the eye—1. (also: give someone the big eye) look at a person with an open display of romantic interest: He was standing over by the bar and kept giving me the eye . 2. look at smb. in a way that shows that one is angry with that person: It was time to go—Dave was tired and I was sure the nurse was giving me the eye . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase give someone the eyeroll—roll one’s eyes upward in annoyance at what another person is saying: It does make my doctor give me the eyeroll sometimes, but he understands me very well. give and take • give or take give and take—1. willingness to compromise (in the hope of obtaining a satisfactory agreement, etc.): With a bit of give and take you can both make sure your home doesn’t suffer. 2. a lively talk or debate, especially one filled with ridicule: Addi- son’s sensitive modesty disqualified him for the rough give- and-take of mixed society. give or take —apart from a few things; except for a few peo- ple: All the children were present, give or take one or two who were ill. give credence to something • lend credibility to something give credence to something—1. put trust in smth.; believe smth.: The jury gave credence to these claims and awarded Lawrence just compensation. 2. make smth. appear more con- vincing: This gave credence to the hypothesis that Israel had not shared with Washington all the information. lend credibility to something— = give credence to something 2: By quoting other writers, you lend credibility and support to your own ideas. give ear to something • have an ear for something give ear to something —listen sympathetically to a suggestion, etc.; heed smth.: They read up on long-distance cycling and gave ear to the advice of friends and relatives. have an ear for something—have the ability to learn music or languages quickly: He had an ear for languages, which he enjoyed, and by this time he spoke five fluently. give full weight to something • give weight to something give full weight to something—treat smb.’s testimony, evi- dence, etc. as valid or important: Dr. Fielden acknowledged he had no training in the field of chiropractic treatment, yet the court gave full weight to his opinions. give weight to something—support or add to the validity of the evidence, etc.: The fact that he had answered the phone at ten o’clock gave weight to his claim that he had not been out on the evening in question. give heart to someone • give one’s heart to someone give heart to someone—inspire smb. with confidence; encourage a person: Tom says he hopes his success will give heart to those who have lost their jobs. Cf.: take heart from someone—be encouraged or inspired by a person: During the time I spent in Nigeria I took heart from brand-new converts to the Church. give one’s heart to someone—(also: lose one’s heart to someone) fall in love with a person: She grew to womanhood, and gave her heart to one who could not know its worth. give it a name • you name it give it a name—(imper.) 1. say what it is you want: I know you want something or you wouldn’t have come to see me. Give it a name old fellow! 2. what would you like to drink: What are you drinking? Give it a name , chaps—there’s every- thing here. you name it—everything that you can think of is available: I’ve written every kind of music there is. You name it , I’ve written it. give it a second thought • have second thoughts give it a second thought—reassess an opinion or decision pre- viously made: You may think this will happen in the distant future but if you give it a second thought you’ll realize it is already happening. Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase don’t give it a second thought—(also: don’t give it a thought) 1. dismiss it from your mind; let that not worry you: Don’t give it a second thought , until you are a lot older and have more experience. 2. is used to indicate that thanks are unnecessary: Oh, don’t give it a second thought , Hun! Actually I should be thanking you! 3. is used as a polite way of accepting apolog y: I looked at her and said graciously: “Please don’t give it a second thought . I wasn’t offended.” have second thoughts(also: get second thoughts) realize that one may be mistaken; have doubts: I am starting to have sec - ond thoughts about my purchase based on what I am reading here. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase have another think coming—used of a need to reconsider one’s plans or opinions: Those who think Carter is still respectable company should have another think coming . See also: think again / think twice. give it a shot • give it the gun give it a shot—(coll.) give smth. a try; attempt to do smth. unfamiliar: I don’t know if my recording skills are up to par but I just might give it a shot . give it the gun —(coll.) cause a vehicle to accelerate rapidly: Even when I would stand in the road and make motions to help me, they would turn out around me and give it the gun . give it mouth • give mouth give it mouth —(dated) speak with vigor and intensity: “Tell us your name!” said the man. “Pip, sir.” “Once more,” said the man, staring at me. “Give it mouth !” give mouth—(also: give tongue) 1. utter one’s thoughts; express smth. in words: I have an opinion of you, sir, to which it is not easy to give mouth . 2. (of a dog ) bark when on the scent: There are hounds that do not give mouth . Some have been trained that way, some come natural. give it to someone • give it to someone straight give it to someone—scold smb. harshly: Later, in a private eye-to-eye discussion, with no witnesses to overhear, Slavsky really gave it to me. give it to someone straight—tell smth. to a person directly: So I gave it to him straight : I’m broke, and there’s no way I can pay the hospital fees. give a promise – 140 –