give up the ghost

Définition et Signification de "give up the ghost"

to give up the ghost

EXPRESSION

to stop living

to [give] up the ghost definition and meaning

Idiom

Informal

What is the origin of the idiom "give up the ghost" and when to use it?

The idiom "give up the ghost" can be traced back to the Bible, particularly in the King James Version of the New Testament, where it is used in the Book of Matthew to describe the moment of death. It means to cease living or functioning.

Example

After a long battle with illness, the elderly man peacefully gave up the ghost in his sleep.

The old car finally sputtered and gave up the ghost, leaving its owner stranded on the side of the road.

When the power went out during the storm, all the electronic devices in the house gave up the ghost.

(of a machine) to fail to work properly

Idiom

Informal

What is the origin of the idiom "give up the ghost" and when to use it?

The idiom "give up the ghost" finds its origin in religious and biblical references, specifically from the King James Version of the Bible. The phrase is derived from the concept of the soul or spirit departing from a person's body upon death. It is now used metaphorically to describe the moment when a machine, device, or mechanical system ceases to function properly or completely fails. The expression implies that the machine has reached the end of its operational life or has become irreparably damaged, likening its failure to the final departure of the soul from a deceased body.

Example

My old car finally gave up the ghost; it stopped running altogether and could n't be fixed.

The ancient printer in the office gave up the ghost, leaving us unable to print any documents.

After years of reliable service, the washing machine finally gave up the ghost and had to be replaced.

to put an stop to an activity one knows has very little or no chance of achieving success

Example

All I'd cherished from early childhood had been denied me, so I simply gave up the ghost.

Mots Proches

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Définition et Signification de "give up the ghost"

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