Give it up
/ɡɪv ɪt ʌp/
The expression give it up can mean either to stop trying at something or to applaud someone, depending on context.
Examples
- Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for our special guest!
- No one would give it up for his terrible joke.
- The crowd wouldn't give it up until the band returned for an encore.
- He finally decided to give it up after failing the test three times.
- She gave it up for the day and went home early.
Meanings
The phrasal verb give up has been used since the 15th century to mean surrender or relinquish. Adding it personalizes the object being abandoned. The full expression give it up evolved as a natural extension of this construction.
Examples
- He finally decided to give it up after failing the test three times.
- Don't give it up now, you're so close to finishing.
- She gave it up for the day and went home early.
- They gave it up as a lost cause after the project ran out of funding.
- Why don't you just give it up and admit you were wrong?
Emerging in American English in the late 20th century, particularly in entertainment contexts. The phrase repurposed the older give up construction to mean offering applause, likely influenced by African American Vernacular English and popularized by DJs and hosts.
Examples
- Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for our special guest!
- The crowd wouldn't give it up until the band returned for an encore.
- Can we give it up one more time for the drummer?
- They really gave it up after her powerful speech.
- No one would give it up for his terrible joke.