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3. give pause

give pause

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give someone pause (for thought)

Fig. to cause someone to stop and think. When I see a golden sunrise, it gives me pause for thought. Witnessing an accident is likely to give all of us pause.

See also: give

give somebody pause

also give pause to somebody

to cause someone to stop and think carefully Surviving a serious car wreck is an experience that really gives you pause.

See also: give

give somebody pause (for thought)

  (formal)

if something gives you pause, it is surprising or worrying and it makes you think more carefully about something It was a tragedy which gave us all pause for thought.

See also: give

give pause

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]

See also: give