Comments on: About the verb give in

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:50:00 +0000

Hi, I'm English and live in the UK. I've just come across your blog as i was looking to translate a French letter i have. I digress -

"Give in" doesn't just mean to surrender - you can say "I gave it in to the college" you are more likely to use this expression in the past tense and this is quite common.

People are more likely to say "I'll hand it in" than "i'll give it in for you" It would be perceived as better English to say hand it in but no one would bat an eyelid if you said "i'll give it in for you"

It is by no means unacceptable to say "i gave it in"

Natasha

By: Holger

Holger — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:21:00 +0000

In a way – when you gave in your paper – you surrendered it in a way and that is irrespectively so whether you handed it in, gave it in, submitted it or whatever.

On another note:
Could anyone explain how these expressions fit together and how they came to be?
Stand with – meaning to not let down.
Withstand – meaning to endure
- and
Notwithstanding – meaning in spite of
It is diffucult to see how they fit together – if at all???

By: Beaumont

Beaumont — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:46:00 +0000

Thanks a lot everybody for your comments, it’s now much more clear (or is it “clearer”? ).

By: John

John — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:43:00 +0000

I’ve only heard “give in” as surrender, never as “to give.” For example, “I will give in to my father’s demands and clean my room.” Like customerservice said, it suggests reluctance, giving in if one thinks he or she will lose anyway. I’ve never heard it as “to give in a watch,” but the only experience I have is various friends and family spread through the US that I talk to regularly.

I’ve heard of some new phrases from my friend in NYC, like standing “on line” as opposed to “in line,” and a long sandwich is a “hero” and not a “sub/submarine.”

By: customerservice

customerservice — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:08:00 +0000

Hello,

As a graduate from the University of Michigan with a BA in English and as someone who has lived in various parts of the U.S. I can honestly say that I have never heard ‘give in’ used in this fashion. I don’t even believe that it is used in the UK in this manner. Also, as Patrick said, it is a phrase not a word. To ‘give in’ as a phrase tends to carry a negative connotation where as to ‘turn in’ or ‘hand in’ carries a more possitive connotation, i.e. (He turned in the lost wallet.) vs. (He gave in the lost wallet.) There is an air of reluctance in the latter example as if the person were coerced into handing over the wallet. Even the blogger from NYC, despite their using terrible English, used the phrase in a negative manner for they were forced into turning in an incomplete paper. Perhaps “fave” should spend a little more time in the writing center.

By: pf

pf — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 07:00:00 +0000

“Give in,” as you proved, is a very flexible word. Since its meaning is determined by the context, i avoid it in writing. To “give up” also means to surrender or quit and, among playing children, the challenge, “Give?!?” is often used by the probable winner. For ‘submit,’ as ‘give in your exams,’ i would use ‘turn in’ or ‘hand in.’

In the past 65 years, i have lived in 4 different, widely separated states. Within the 9M+ sq km U.S, there are lots of dialects and colloquialisms which are not immediately understood in other areas, e.g., ‘bubbler’ is ‘water fountain’ is ‘drinking fountain.’

By: Atlas Consulting, Inc.

Atlas Consulting, Inc. — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 16:02:00 +0000

Hi All!

I am from California, and I have only ever used “give in” to mean “surrender.” Furthermore, the connotation is more playful, and less serious as surrender. e.g. The English surrendered to the terrorist’s demands. One may use give in, but I use give in more, I gave in to my mother’s excessive nagging. I’m not sure, but maybe give in, meaning hand in, is more british. Thanks!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 13:32:00 +0000

The phrase – ‘ give in’ – can be used in two totally different ways in English. It can be used as a phrasal verb – ‘to give in’ – to cease fighting or arguing – see, for example, the Concise Oxford Dictionary. Or it can be used in a completely different way – such as in the examples given in the blog. In those cases the verb ‘to give’ is being used with a preposition – ‘in’.