give it to

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.

Example Sentences

“She’s the type of actor who I can say, ‘What’s in my head is one tear rolling down,’ and she can give it to me,” Bronstein says.

From Los Angeles Times

Besides insinuating that Democrats would steal white people’s health care to give it to people of color, the GOP nicknamed the bill “Obamacare,” which some have argued was intended to stigmatize the program, at least in part, on racial grounds.

From Salon

“They’ll give it to you and then say, ‘Hey you never know, you might even get a lawsuit.’”

From Los Angeles Times

Put the envelope in your mailbox, give it to your mail carrier or take it to the post office.

From Los Angeles Times

At least since Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign, Republicans have spent decades branding themselves as the part of “entrepreneurs,” “free markets,” “capitalism” and being “good for the economy,” as compared to Democrats, whom they deplore as being for “big government” and “taxing and spending” to take money from “hard working Americans” to give it to “takers,” “welfare queens” and other “parasites” and “lazy” people.

From Salon

Related Words

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• encumber 
• hamper 
• hinder 
• lade 
• oppress 
• overload 
• overwhelm 
• weigh down