What Does “Give sb away” Mean?
“Give sb away” is a phrasal verb that means to reveal someone’s secret or identity unintentionally, or to formally present a bride at a wedding.
Introduction
The phrase “give sb away” has different meanings depending on the context. In everyday English, it often means to reveal a secret about someone without meaning to. For example, if you accidentally show someone’s feelings or plans, you “give them away.” Another common meaning is related to weddings, where a father or guardian “gives away” the bride, symbolizing her transition to marriage. Understanding the “give sb away meaning” helps learners use it correctly in conversations, whether talking about secrets or weddings.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: give somebody away
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to reveal a secret or to present a bride at a wedding
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Give sb away” is a separable phrasal verb, which means you can place the object between “give” and “away” or after the whole phrase. Here are the patterns:
- give + somebody + away (e.g., She gave him away.)
- give away + somebody (e.g., She gave away him.) — less common and sounds awkward
The first pattern is preferred and most natural.
How to Use “Give sb away”?
Use “give sb away” when you want to say someone’s secret or identity is revealed, often without intention. It can also be used in formal wedding contexts when the bride is presented by a family member. The meaning depends on context, so listen carefully to understand it.
Examples
Imagine you are trying to hide a surprise party, but your friend accidentally tells the guest of honor. You could say, “He gave the surprise away.” Here are more examples with “give sb away” in a sentence:
- Her nervous smile gave her away; I knew she was hiding something.
- At the wedding, the bride’s father gave her away to the groom.
- Don’t give me away if I say something embarrassing!
- The way he laughed gave him away as the prankster.
- She gave away her best friend’s secret by mistake.
Common Mistakes
People often confuse the word order or use the phrase incorrectly. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: She gave away him at the wedding.
- Correct: She gave him away at the wedding.
- Incorrect: Don’t give away me!
- Correct: Don’t give me away!
Remember, the object (sb) should come between “give” and “away.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “give away” and “give up.” “Give away” can mean to reveal secrets or to donate something for free. “Give sb away” specifically involves revealing a person’s secret or presenting a bride. “Give up” means to stop trying or surrender, which is unrelated.
Example: “He gave away the secret” vs. “He gave up trying.” The first is similar to “give sb away” but not the same.
Common Collocations
“Give sb away” is often used with words related to people and secrets. Common collocations include:
- give the bride away – present the bride at a wedding
- give someone away – reveal someone’s secret or identity
- give a secret away – accidentally tell a secret
- give feelings away – show emotions unintentionally
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of give sb away:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “give sb away”:
Anna: Did you tell John about the surprise party?
Mark: Oops, I think I gave him away by accident.
Anna: Oh no! Now it’s not a surprise anymore.
Mark: Sorry! I didn’t mean to give him away.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “give sb away”:
- Her smile __________ her; I knew she was lying.
- At the wedding, the father __________ his daughter __________.
- Don’t __________ me __________ if I make a mistake.
Answers:
- gave her away
- gave away
- give me away
FAQs
- What does “give sb away” mean? It means to reveal someone’s secret or to present a bride at a wedding.
- Can “give sb away” be used in casual conversation? Yes, especially when talking about accidentally revealing secrets or emotions.
- Is “give sb away” separable? Yes, the object usually goes between “give” and “away.”
- What is the difference between “give sb away” and “give away”? “Give sb away” focuses on revealing a person’s secret or presenting a bride, while “give away” can mean to donate or reveal something.
- Can “give sb away” be used in writing? Yes, it is common in both spoken and written English.
