give pause

Idioms  

1. Cause one to hesitate, as in The high monthly installment payments gave me pause, or, as Shakespeare put it in Hamlet (3:1): “For in that sleep of death what dreams may come ... Must give us pause.” [c. 1600]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

give pause

Some of Pulte’s annotations might give pause to those already worried about him overseeing America’s intelligence community.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026

“This list should give pause to anyone—no matter his or her political beliefs—who cares about the rule of law,” Schiltz, an appointee of President George W. Bush, said in a written order.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

It adds: "We question how any department can consider that a foreign country single-handedly running our nuclear power stations shouldn't give pause for thought."

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2023

That may give pause to businesses hoping to hire chatbots to cut their human payrolls.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2023

It is common belief that no cause is too sacred or no consequence too grave to give pause to the editorial rapacity for news.

From The Sign at Six by Stewart Edward White