# give pause

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/give-pause
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To give somebody cause for concern.

## Examples

- The high price of the car gives me pause.
- The sudden change in the company's leadership gave the investors pause before they signed the contract.
- The strange silence in the forest gave the experienced hikers pause, as they realized they were no longer alone.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.