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give up the ghost

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give up the ghost

Euph. to die. (Fixed order. Often used to describe machines breaking down.) The old man gave up the ghost. My poor old car finally gave up the ghost.

See also: ghost, give, up

give up the ghost

1. to die My great-grandfather gave up the ghost a week after moving into a nursing home.

2. to stop operating He had not been to town since spring because his car had given up the ghost.

3. to stop trying She'd been trying to break into acting for ten years without success and was just about to give up the ghost.

See also: ghost, give, up

give up the ghost

 

1. to stop trying to do something because you know that you will not succeed She'd been trying to break into acting for ten years without success and was just about to give up the ghost.

2. (humorous) if a machine gives up the ghost, it stops working We've had the same television for fifteen years and I think it's finally about to give up the ghost.

See also: ghost, give, up

give up the ghost

Die, as in At ten o'clock he gave up the ghost. This expression, which employs ghost in the sense of "the soul or spirit," may itself be dying out. [Late 1300s]

See also: ghost, give, up

give up the ghost

To cease living or functioning; die.

See also: ghost, give, up