give up the ghost

/ɡˈɪvˌʌp ðə ɡˈəʊst/

/ɡˈɪvˌʌp ðə ɡˈoʊst/

to give up the ghost

to stop living

antonyms : be born

(of a machine) to fail to work properly

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

Examples

1. The old man gave up the ghost.

2. My poor old car finally gave up the ghost.

3. Ours has finally given up the ghost.

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