give away
B1Informal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To transfer possession of something to someone without asking for payment; to distribute something for free.
To reveal a secret or piece of information inadvertently; to betray or expose someone; to present a bride to her groom in a wedding ceremony; to concede an advantage in a competition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functionally a phrasal verb. The separable particle 'away' emphasizes the act of relinquishing or distributing. When meaning 'to reveal a secret,' it implies unintentional disclosure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The 'give away the bride' ritual is more traditionally emphasized in American wedding culture. The noun form 'giveaway' (one word) is common in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. 'Giveaway' as a noun for a promotional free item is slightly more commercial in American English.
Frequency
Equally frequent and core in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + give away + [Direct Object][Subject] + give + [Indirect Object] + away[Subject] + give + [Direct Object] + away + to [Recipient]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “give the game away”
- “give the store away (US, informal)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for promotional activities: 'The company will give away samples at the trade fair.'
Academic
Used metaphorically: 'The author's tone gives away his ideological position.'
Everyday
Most common: donating items or revealing secrets: 'I'm going to give away my old books.' / 'His face gave away his surprise.'
Technical
In sports commentary: 'The striker gave away possession cheaply.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We're having a clear-out and plan to give away loads of old toys.
- Don't say another word, you'll give the whole plot away!
- The defender gave away a foolish penalty.
American English
- The radio station is giving away concert tickets to the tenth caller.
- Her nervous glance gave away the fact that she was lying.
- The senator's comment gave away his true intentions.
adjective
British English
- The packaging had a giveaway tear along the side. (revealing)
- It was a giveaway price for such a high-quality sofa.
American English
- His accent was a giveaway that he wasn't from here.
- They're selling the car at a giveaway price just to be rid of it.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She will give away her old clothes.
- He gave away my secret.
- The shop is giving away free balloons.
- I'm going to give these books away to the library.
- The look on his face gave away his true feelings.
- They gave away prizes during the school festival.
- The charity gives away thousands of meals every week.
- A single misplaced document could give away the entire operation.
- The goalkeeper's error gave away a crucial early goal.
- The government's hesitancy gave away its lack of a coherent strategy.
- He was accused of giving away company secrets to a competitor.
- The bride's father traditionally gives her away at the altar.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of physically GIVING something and it going AWAY from you, out of your hands, either to another person (donation) or into the open (revealing a secret).
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A POSSESSION (to give away a secret). GENEROSITY IS TRANSFER OF POSSESSION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'give up' (сдаваться, бросать). 'Give away' for revealing a secret is close to 'выдать' or 'проговориться', not 'отдавать' in its pure physical sense.
- The noun 'a giveaway' (подсказка, разоблачение) is a false friend for the Russian 'гивэвей' (a type of quiz).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect separation: 'I gave it away' is correct; 'I gave away it' is incorrect with pronouns.
- Confusing 'give away' (relinquish/reveal) with 'give way' (yield, collapse).
- Using it for metaphorical 'surrender': Incorrect: 'He gave away in the argument.' Correct: 'He gave in...'
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'give away' mean 'to reveal unintentionally'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends. The verb is always two words: 'give away.' The noun, meaning either something given for free or a revealing clue, is usually one word: 'a giveaway' or 'the giveaway.'
'Give away' implies transferring ownership for free. 'Give out' means to distribute items, often to multiple people, but not necessarily relinquishing ownership (e.g., a teacher gives out worksheets, but expects them back).
Yes, absolutely. Donating to charity ('give away to the poor') or providing free gifts ('give away samples') are strongly positive uses. The 'reveal a secret' meaning is often neutral or negative.
Pronouns (it, them) must go between the verb and the particle. Correct: 'Give it away.' Incorrect: 'Give away it.' For nouns, you can say 'give the secret away' or 'give away the secret.'