In the United States, giving is an important part of everyday life. People give gifts during holidays, donate to help those in need, and share their time with friends or neighbors. Americans often use special expressions, called idioms, to talk about giving. These idioms make conversations more colorful and help describe different ways people can offer help, kindness, or resources.
Some idioms about giving focus on generosity, while others highlight sharing in a more lighthearted or playful way. They can be used in school, at home, or in community activities. Learning these phrases will help you understand conversations better and also make your own speech sound more natural. In this article, we will explore many common idioms about giving that you might hear in the USA.
Idioms About Giving
1. Give a hand
Meaning: To help someone
Example Sentence:
• Can you give me a hand moving this couch?
• The teacher asked the students to give a hand setting up chairs.
Other ways to say: Help out, lend a hand
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of physically using your hand to help someone.
Usage: Used when offering or asking for help.
2. Hand over
Meaning: To give something to someone
Example Sentence:
• Please hand over your homework before leaving class.
• The officer asked him to hand over his driver’s license.
Other ways to say: Pass, give up
Fun Fact/Origin: First used in the 1700s to mean passing something from one person to another.
Usage: Used when physically giving something to another person.
3. Pitch in
Meaning: To help by contributing time, money, or effort
Example Sentence:
• Everyone pitched in to clean the park.
• The neighbors pitched in to buy new swings for the playground.
Other ways to say: Contribute, help out
Fun Fact/Origin: Dates back to the 1800s, meaning to start working together quickly.
Usage: Used when people work together to get something done.
4. Foot the bill
Meaning: To pay for something
Example Sentence:
• My dad footed the bill for the whole family dinner.
• The company will foot the bill for the team’s uniforms.
Other ways to say: Pay for, cover the cost
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the old use of “foot” meaning to total up an amount on a bill.
Usage: Used when someone pays for something, often for others.
5. Lend an ear
Meaning: To listen carefully to someone
Example Sentence:
• She lent an ear when her friend needed to talk.
• The coach always lends an ear to his players’ concerns.
Other ways to say: Listen closely, hear out
Fun Fact/Origin: Dates back to Shakespeare’s time; “lend” means to give temporarily.
Usage: Used when someone listens to another person’s problems or ideas.
6. Give it a shot
Meaning: To try something
Example Sentence:
• I’ve never played tennis, but I’ll give it a shot.
• He decided to give the science fair a shot.
Other ways to say: Try, take a chance
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports like archery or shooting, meaning to take aim at something.
Usage: Used when someone attempts something new.
7. Fork over
Meaning: To give money or something, often unwillingly
Example Sentence:
• He had to fork over $10 for the parking ticket.
• The kids forked over their candy for the school fundraiser.
Other ways to say: Hand over, give up
Fun Fact/Origin: First appeared in American slang in the 1800s, suggesting pushing food with a fork.
Usage: Used when someone is made to give something.
8. Spread the wealth
Meaning: To share money or resources with others
Example Sentence:
• The business owner spreads the wealth by giving bonuses.
• She spread the wealth by donating school supplies.
Other ways to say: Share resources, give back
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in U.S. politics and business when talking about sharing profits.
Usage: Used when someone distributes resources to benefit others.
9. Pass the buck
Meaning: To shift responsibility to someone else
Example Sentence:
• Don’t pass the buck—finish your part of the project.
• The manager passed the buck to his assistant.
Other ways to say: Shift blame, avoid responsibility
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from poker, where a marker (buck) was passed to show whose turn it was.
Usage: Used when someone avoids taking responsibility.
10. Shell out
Meaning: To pay for something, usually a lot
Example Sentence:
• We shelled out $500 for the new fridge.
• Parents shelled out money for the school trip.
Other ways to say: Pay, spend
Fun Fact/Origin: “Shell” refers to coins, which were once made from shells in trade.
Usage: Used when spending money, often reluctantly.
11. Give the green light
Meaning: To allow something to start
Example Sentence:
• The principal gave the green light for the field trip.
• The city gave the green light to build a new park.
Other ways to say: Approve, allow
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from traffic lights, where green means “go.”
Usage: Used when giving permission for something to happen.
12. Cut a check
Meaning: To write and give someone a payment
Example Sentence:
• The school cut a check to pay for the sports equipment.
• They cut a check to cover the charity’s expenses.
Other ways to say: Pay, issue a check
Fun Fact/Origin: Common U.S. business slang from the 1900s when checks were the main payment method.
Usage: Used when making a formal payment.
13. Give away the store
Meaning: To be too generous, giving more than needed
Example Sentence:
• The coach almost gave away the store by giving free gear to everyone.
• The bakery gave away the store with too many free samples.
Other ways to say: Overgive, be overly generous
Fun Fact/Origin: From retail, meaning to give away too much inventory.
Usage: Used when someone gives too much, often at a loss.
14. Lend a hand
Meaning: To help someone with a task
Example Sentence:
• Can you lend a hand with these heavy boxes?
• Volunteers lent a hand cleaning up the beach.
Other ways to say: Assist, help out
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to “give a hand,” used since the 1600s.
Usage: Used for physical or practical help.
15. Hand out
Meaning: To distribute items
Example Sentence:
• The teacher handed out the test papers.
• Volunteers handed out food to the homeless.
Other ways to say: Distribute, give out
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in schools, charities, and events.
Usage: Used when passing items to people.
16. Donate time
Meaning: To give your time to help others without payment
Example Sentence:
• She donates time at the local animal shelter.
• Students donated time to tutor younger kids.
Other ways to say: Volunteer, give time
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in U.S. community service culture.
Usage: Used when people volunteer for a cause.
17. Give credit where credit is due
Meaning: To acknowledge someone’s work or help
Example Sentence:
• Give credit where credit is due—John did most of the work.
• The coach gave credit where credit was due to the defense team.
Other ways to say: Recognize, acknowledge
Fun Fact/Origin: Phrase dates back to the 1700s in English writing.
Usage: Used when praising someone for their efforts.
18. Chip in
Meaning: To contribute money or effort
Example Sentence:
• Everyone chipped in for a farewell gift.
• We chipped in to buy new jerseys.
Other ways to say: Contribute, pitch in
Fun Fact/Origin: First recorded in U.S. poker games, meaning to put chips into the pot.
Usage: Used when people pool resources together.
19. Give up the ghost
Meaning: To stop trying or for something to stop working
Example Sentence:
• My old phone finally gave up the ghost.
• He gave up the ghost after hours of trying to fix it.
Other ways to say: Quit, stop working
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the Bible, meaning to die or fail.
Usage: Used for quitting or when things stop functioning.
20. Hand in
Meaning: To submit work or documents
Example Sentence:
• Please hand in your assignments before leaving.
• The player handed in his resignation letter.
Other ways to say: Submit, turn in
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in schools and workplaces across the U.S.
Usage: Used when giving official work to someone in charge.
21. Give a gift of gab
Meaning: To have the talent to speak well
Example Sentence:
• Salespeople often have the gift of gab.
• She used her gift of gab to raise money for charity.
Other ways to say: Eloquence, persuasive speech
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in Irish and American culture; linked to storytelling traditions.
Usage: Used when praising someone’s speaking skills.
22. Pass on
Meaning: To give something to someone else
Example Sentence:
• She passed on her old clothes to her cousin.
• He passed on valuable advice to the new students.
Other ways to say: Hand down, give away
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in family traditions and inheritance.
Usage: Used for sharing items, advice, or traditions.
23. Give someone the cold shoulder
Meaning: To ignore someone on purpose
Example Sentence:
• She gave him the cold shoulder after the argument.
• He gave the cold shoulder to his old teammates.
Other ways to say: Ignore, snub
Fun Fact/Origin: From old Scotland, meaning to offer someone a cold piece of meat instead of a warm meal.
Usage: Used when purposely avoiding someone.
24. Give the benefit of the doubt
Meaning: To believe someone even without proof
Example Sentence:
• I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt this time.
• The teacher gave the student the benefit of the doubt about being late.
Other ways to say: Trust, believe
Fun Fact/Origin: Legal phrase meaning to side with the accused if evidence is unclear.
Usage: Used when choosing to believe someone.
25. Give ground
Meaning: To make a concession or retreat
Example Sentence:
• The team gave ground on their demands.
• He refused to give ground in the debate.
Other ways to say: Back down, yield
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from military language about losing land to the enemy.
Usage: Used in arguments or negotiations.
26. Give a run for one’s money
Meaning: To offer strong competition
Example Sentence:
• The underdogs gave the champions a run for their money.
• She gave her opponent a run for her money in the race.
Other ways to say: Compete strongly, challenge
Fun Fact/Origin: First appeared in horse racing in the 1800s.
Usage: Used in sports, games, and challenges.
27. Give a piece of one’s mind
Meaning: To express anger or disapproval
Example Sentence:
• She gave him a piece of her mind for being rude.
• The coach gave the team a piece of his mind after the loss.
Other ways to say: Scold, tell off
Fun Fact/Origin: In use since the 1500s, meaning to speak frankly.
Usage: Used when telling someone exactly what you think.
28. Give it your all
Meaning: To put in maximum effort
Example Sentence:
• The team gave it their all during the championship.
• She gave it her all on the math test.
Other ways to say: Try your best, go all out
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular sports and motivational phrase.
Usage: Used when encouraging effort.
29. Give rise to
Meaning: To cause something to happen
Example Sentence:
• The storm gave rise to flooding in the area.
• His comments gave rise to a heated discussion.
Other ways to say: Cause, lead to
Fun Fact/Origin: In English since the 1600s, linked to farming imagery.
Usage: Used for events causing outcomes.
30. Give way
Meaning: To allow something else to take priority
Example Sentence:
• The smaller car gave way to the truck at the intersection.
• Her anger gave way to relief.
Other ways to say: Yield, allow
Fun Fact/Origin: Traffic term adapted to emotions and situations.
Usage: Used in both driving and emotional changes.
31. Give the go-ahead
Meaning: To approve or start something
Example Sentence:
• The boss gave the go-ahead for the new project.
• The coach gave the go-ahead to start practice early.
Other ways to say: Approve, permit
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to “green light,” common in business and sports.
Usage: Used when confirming permission.
32. Give someone a break
Meaning: To be lenient or stop bothering someone
Example Sentence:
• Give me a break—I’m doing my best.
• The teacher gave the class a break and skipped homework.
Other ways to say: Go easy on, be kind
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in U.S. culture as both a request and a command.
Usage: Used for kindness or expressing frustration.
33. Give in
Meaning: To agree after resisting
Example Sentence:
• He gave in to his kids’ request for ice cream.
• The team gave in after hours of negotiation.
Other ways to say: Surrender, yield
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in both personal and political contexts.
Usage: Used when someone stops resisting.
34. Give out
Meaning: To distribute or to stop functioning
Example Sentence:
• The school gave out free lunches.
• The engine gave out on the highway.
Other ways to say: Distribute, fail
Fun Fact/Origin: Dual meaning in English depending on context.
Usage: Used for giving items or something breaking down.
35. Give off
Meaning: To emit or release something
Example Sentence:
• The flowers gave off a sweet smell.
• The heater gave off a lot of warmth.
Other ways to say: Emit, release
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in science and daily speech.
Usage: Used for smells, heat, light, or vibes.
36. Give someone the runaround
Meaning: To avoid giving a clear answer
Example Sentence:
• The company gave me the runaround about my refund.
• He gave her the runaround instead of telling the truth.
Other ways to say: Stall, dodge
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in U.S. slang since the 1900s.
Usage: Used when people are evasive.
37. Give someone a taste of their own medicine
Meaning: To treat someone the same bad way they treated others
Example Sentence:
• She gave him a taste of his own medicine by ignoring him.
• The rival team gave them a taste of their own medicine with tough defense.
Other ways to say: Pay back, retaliate
Fun Fact/Origin: Linked to the idea of a doctor taking unpleasant medicine they prescribe.
Usage: Used for revenge or fair treatment.
38. Give pause
Meaning: To cause someone to think carefully
Example Sentence:
• The news gave her pause about traveling.
• His words gave me pause before deciding.
Other ways to say: Make reconsider, cause doubt
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in speeches and writing.
Usage: Used when something causes hesitation.
39. Give thanks
Meaning: To express gratitude
Example Sentence:
• Families give thanks during Thanksgiving dinner.
• He gave thanks for the help he received.
Other ways to say: Be grateful, express thanks
Fun Fact/Origin: Deeply tied to U.S. Thanksgiving traditions.
Usage: Used to show appreciation.
40. Give someone a leg up
Meaning: To help someone succeed
Example Sentence:
• The internship gave her a leg up in her career.
• His advice gave me a leg up in the contest.
Other ways to say: Boost, help
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from helping someone mount a horse.
Usage: Used for giving someone an advantage.
41. Give someone butterflies
Meaning: To make someone feel nervous or excited
Example Sentence:
• Speaking in public gives me butterflies.
• He gives her butterflies whenever he smiles.
Other ways to say: Make nervous, cause excitement
Fun Fact/Origin: From the fluttery feeling in the stomach.
Usage: Used in love, excitement, or nervousness.
42. Give life to
Meaning: To make something lively or real
Example Sentence:
• The artist’s colors gave life to the painting.
• Music gave life to the party.
Other ways to say: Energize, animate
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in art, literature, and events.
Usage: Used when making something more alive or exciting.
43. Give your word
Meaning: To promise
Example Sentence:
• I give you my word I’ll be there.
• He gave his word to finish the project on time.
Other ways to say: Promise, vow
Fun Fact/Origin: In English since the Middle Ages, linking words to honor.
Usage: Used for serious promises.
44. Give voice to
Meaning: To express an opinion or feeling
Example Sentence:
• She gave voice to the concerns of the class.
• The song gave voice to many people’s struggles.
Other ways to say: Express, speak out
Fun Fact/Origin: Linked to giving a literal voice to something unspoken.
Usage: Used in advocacy and storytelling.
45. Give the slip
Meaning: To escape from someone
Example Sentence:
• The mouse gave the cat the slip.
• The player gave the defender the slip and scored.
Other ways to say: Evade, escape
Fun Fact/Origin: In U.S. slang since the 1800s.
Usage: Used in sports, games, or avoiding people.
46. Give someone chills
Meaning: To make someone feel scared or thrilled
Example Sentence:
• That ghost story gave me chills.
• The singer’s voice gave the audience chills.
Other ways to say: Frighten, excite
Fun Fact/Origin: Related to goosebumps when emotions are strong.
Usage: Used for fear or awe.
47. Give out to
Meaning: To scold
Example Sentence:
• The coach gave out to the team for being late.
• Parents gave out to their kids for not cleaning up.
Other ways to say: Tell off, reprimand
Fun Fact/Origin: More common in Irish and some U.S. communities.
Usage: Used when expressing disapproval strongly.
48. Give one’s all
Meaning: To put in full effort
Example Sentence:
• The firefighter gave his all to save the family.
• She gave her all in the spelling bee.
Other ways to say: Try your best, go all out
Fun Fact/Origin: Motivational phrase often used in sports and challenges.
Usage: Used to describe total commitment.
Quiz: Idioms About Giving
Instructions: Choose the correct answer for each question. Only one choice is correct.
Question Key
1. What does “give a hand” mean?
A) To wave at someone
B) To help someone
C) To clap for someone
2. If your parents “foot the bill” for dinner, what are they doing?
A) Complaining about the food
B) Paying for the dinner
C) Serving the food themselves
3. When friends “chip in” for a gift, what are they doing?
A) Wrapping the gift
B) Paying or helping together
C) Taking turns holding it
4. If a teacher “hands out” papers, what does it mean?
A) Collecting them from students
B) Giving them to students
C) Throwing them away
5. What does it mean to “give someone the cold shoulder”?
A) To offer them a coat
B) To ignore them on purpose
C) To ask them to sit closer
6. If your coach says “give it your all,” what should you do?
A) Try your best
B) Stop and rest
C) Quit the game
7. When a company “cuts a check,” what are they doing?
A) Making a payment
B) Tearing paper in half
C) Ending a meeting
8. What does “pitch in” mean?
A) Throw something away
B) Help or contribute
C) Start a baseball game
9. If someone “gives their word,” what does it mean?
A) They are making a promise
B) They are telling a joke
C) They are reading a story
10. What does “fork over” usually mean?
A) To serve dinner
B) To give something, often unwillingly
C) To drop something on the floor
11. If a coach “gives someone a leg up,” what are they doing?
A) Helping them succeed
B) Kicking them out of the team
C) Asking them to sit down
12. What does it mean to “give thanks”?
A) To say thank you or show gratitude
B) To give someone a gift
C) To write a thank-you card only
13. If someone “passes on” advice, what are they doing?
A) Ignoring it
B) Giving it to another person
C) Writing it in a book
14. What does “give someone a break” mean?
A) To let them rest or go easy on them
B) To hurt their feelings
C) To give them free food
15. If a player “gives the slip” to an opponent, what happens?
A) They escaped or avoided them
B) They gave them a note
C) They pushed them away
16. What does “give rise to” mean?
A) To cause something to happen
B) To lift something high
C) To raise money for charity
17. If a teacher “gives the green light” for a project, what does it mean?
A) The project is rejected
B) The project is approved to start
C) The project is paused
Answer Key
- B) To help someone
- B) Paying for the dinner
- B) Paying or helping together
- B) Giving them to students
- B) To ignore them on purpose
- A) Try your best
- A) Making a payment
- B) Help or contribute
- A) They are making a promise
- B) To give something, often unwillingly
- A) Helping them succeed
- A) To say thank you or show gratitude
- B) Giving it to another person
- A) To let them rest or go easy on them
- A) They escaped or avoided them
- A) To cause something to happen
- B) The project is approved to start
Wrapping Up
Idioms about giving are used often in American conversations. They can describe generosity, helping others, or even passing responsibility. By knowing these expressions, you can understand people better and sound more natural when you speak.
In the USA, giving is a big part of culture—from lending a hand to friends, to chipping in for community events. These idioms help share those ideas in a short and colorful way. Next time you hear or use one, you’ll know exactly what it means.
