Did you ever wonder where different sayings came from? Or think about how many are about gifts and giving? I have, and recently I looked up several that use those words. There are a lot of straightforward sayings using the word give and a couple others that that seem appropriate for this time of the year.
Generic Phrases
Most of these mean just what they seem to, or only need a little explanation. The ones more related to Christmas are below. (note – there are a few that I left out because they’re not “polite”)
Give a blank check (can spend what they want)
Give a black eye (cause them shame, or could be an actual black eye. . .)
Give me a break! (similar to don’t be so harsh, that’s enough, stop it, or when something is difficult to believe)
Give me a hand (help someone or applause)
Give a leg up (also means help someone)
Give a once over (take a quick look)
Give someone a hard time (cause them difficulty or make trouble for them)
Give a run for your money (make work for it)
Give in or give up (quit or concede)
Give someone the slip (get away)
Give the third degree (lots of questions)
Give someone a rundown (give them a quick review)
Give the evil eye (to give someone an angry look)
Give someone the nod (give permission or choose someone)
Give someone the cold shoulder (snub or ignore someone)
Give and take (i.e. compromise)
Give it a shot (try something that has little chance of succeeding)
Give it the old college try (same as above)
Give up the ghost (to die or for inanimate objects – to stop working)
Give it a whirl (i.e. try something to see if you like it)
I’m sure there are even more. . .
“Give a man a fish…”
The whole saying is “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” I’ve always liked the version I heard with one more line “. . .teach the village to fish, and the lake’s empty in a week.” 😉 There are different opinions of where this originated, and the phrase has changed over the decades to become closer to what we now have. But, most sources credit Anne Isabella Ritchie who wrote something similar in the 1880’s in Britain, “He certainly doesn’t practice his precepts, but I suppose the patron meant that if you give a man a fish he is hungry again in an hour; if you teach him to catch a fish you do him a good turn.”
Regardless it does point to a problem in giving to others and feeding the hungry – without changing their situation they will be needy again. That is not to say we shouldn’t meet their immediate physical needs. Sometimes, that is what is most needed before anything else can be done. But, it does point to the value in education to help those in poverty, and perhaps, to the value in education as a way to give to others. . .
“Give the shirt off one’s back”
All we know about this one is that it first appeared in dictionaries in 1771. The meaning was to give anything and everything you possessed. Now, it usually refers to someone very helpful, to give what is needed even if there’s a cost. It refers to someone being very generous, caring, helpful, which isn’t a bad idea. . .
“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”
Probably the most well known of the group. When I was young – I thought it was a literal warning (and a dumb thing to do). An easy way to lose a finger. . .
Actually, a horse’s age can be determined by it’s teeth (number, shape, etc). Wiktionary attributes it to John Heywood who wrote in 1546 “no man ought to look a given horse in the mouth,” but also says it could be even older, as it could come from a Latin text, circa A.D. 400.
Either way the idea is the same – if someone gives you a horse, you don’t stand there examining it’s quality, especially with the giver standing there. . . A more general meaning – don’t be ungrateful when you receive a gift. Something to definitely keep in mind this time of year. . . .
“It is better to give than to receive” (or it is more blessed to give than to receive)
It comes from the Bible, Acts 20:35. This one literally means what it says, although some may not agree. . . But that goes against our human nature, and on the surface sounds wrong, doesn’t it? Wouldn’t you rather have something than give it to someone else and not have it? Especially if it’s valuable, or a gift you’ve been waiting for. . .
But as much as I like receiving gifts, and have especially liked several, I believe this statement is true. There can be more joy in giving to someone else, than in getting something yourself. Especially if you’ve spent a lot of time picking the perfect gift for someone, or making something very special for someone. There is an anticipation in waiting until you can give them their gift, and see their reaction and appreciation. I’ve always enjoyed giving my children Christmas gifts much more than the gifts I get at Christmas from others. And there’s a simple good feeling that comes from giving to someone less fortunate than yourself. From not thinking of “gimmie, gimmie” but putting someone else’s needs first. And even from helping others, other than giving a physical “gift”. After all – the “giving” doesn’t have to be money or a gift, it can be time, service, etc.
Hopefully you’ve found this enlightening, at least interesting 😉 Or I’ve given you something to think about.
Any thoughts or comments? Please let me know below.
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