give it to

Idioms  

1. Punish or reprimand, as in Dad really gave it to Tom for coming in so late. This expression, implying a physical or verbal attack, dates from the late 1500s. Also see give someone hell. In more recent times the expression gave rise to give it to someone straight, meaning “to tell someone something candidly and directly.” For example, I asked the doctor to give it to use straight about Mother's condition.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

give it to

According to investigators, she gave her driver money and instructed him to give it to a performer.

From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026

As my husband was quick to note, we could use the money for a family vacation or simply give it to our sons, a gift they would welcome more than anything else we could offer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

"They'll be cryopreserved, so we can make a bunch of doses and give it to different patients," Sunwoo said.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

Rhys: Absolutely, and it’s wildly refreshing to know that people are going, “No, we want something different. And we are intelligent enough to deal with it. So give it to us.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

It was for him, not them, to say who should handle the bow, and he bade Eumaeus give it to Odysseus.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Related Words

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