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give up the ghost

To cede a commitment to or identification with.

Etymology:

  • Attested since the Old English period.
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Submitted on July 07, 2010

Additional definitions for 'give up the ghost':

give up the ghostTo cease clinging to life; to die.
give up the ghostTo quit; to cease functioning.
Give Up the GhostStop trying or give up when you know it is useless and you will not succeed
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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to give up the ghost

give thoughtgive the royal treatmentgive the man a box of 'milky ways'!give what fornot give someone the time of daygive the time of daynot give a stuffwouldn't give two hoots n a holler / ..…give the benefit of the doubtnot give a monkey'sgive the devil his dueyou only get what you givegive weightto give a person line

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    "give up the ghost." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 19 Mar. 2025. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/give-up-the-ghost_12658>.

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