# give over

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/give-over
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to stop doing something annoying or silly. You use this when you want someone to be quiet or stop complaining.

For teachers: to cease a specific, usually irritating, behavior or activity; often used as an imperative to express disbelief or annoyance. Primarily British English register.

## Examples

- Oh, give over! You're not really going to quit your job.
- He kept complaining about the weather until I told him to give over and enjoy the walk.
- The children were bickering so loudly in the back of the car that their father finally shouted for them to give over.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Give over to talk about that." but "Give over talking about that." — if followed by an action, use the -ing form, though it is most commonly used as a standalone command.

## Usage notes

- often used alone as an exclamation to tell someone to stop talking or acting foolishly.
- Teaching tip: teach this alongside 'stop it' or 'give it a rest' to show how it functions as a dismissive imperative in casual British conversation.

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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.