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3. give oneself up

give oneself up

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give oneself up

 (to someone or something)

1. Lit. to surrender to someone or something. Fran gave herself up to the disease. Walter gave himself up to the police.

2. Fig. to devote oneself to someone or something; to give oneself over to someone or something. She gave herself up to her children and their care. Fran gave herself up to tennis. Jane refused to give herself up to weight lifting, which is a full-time hobby.

See also: give, up

give oneself up

1. Surrender, as in They gave themselves up to the police. [Second half of 1500s]

2. Devote or abandon oneself completely, as in She gave herself up to her research. [Second half of 1500s] Also see give up.

See also: give, up