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Phrasal verbs "give up on" vs "give up to"

Differences between give up on and give up to

Give up on means to stop trying to do something or to stop having hope that something will improve. Give up to means to surrender or submit to someone or something, often in a physical sense.

Meanings and Definitions: give up on vs give up to

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Give up on

  • 1Lose faith in or stop believing in something or someone.

    I GAVE UP ON them when I heard what they were saying about me behind my back.

  • 2Stop feeling hope.

    I have GIVEN UP ON them; they never do what they promise.

Give up to

  • 1Denounce, report to authorities.

    He GAVE his accomplices UP TO the police.

Usage Examples: give up on, give up to in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

give up on

Example

I will not give up on my dream of becoming a writer.

Example

She gives up on people too easily.

give up to

Example

He decided to give his friend up to the police.

Example

She gives the thief up to the authorities.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Give up on

abandon

To leave behind or give up on something or someone.

Example

After years of trying to fix the old car, he finally decided to abandon it and buy a new one.

lose faith in

To stop believing in someone or something's ability to succeed or improve.

Example

After several failed attempts, she lost faith in her ability to pass the exam.

throw in the towel

To give up or surrender in defeat.

Example

After struggling for hours with the puzzle, he finally threw in the towel and admitted defeat.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Give up to

surrender to

To give in or submit to someone or something, often in a physical sense.

Example

The soldiers were forced to surrender to the enemy after running out of ammunition.

yield to

To give way or submit to someone or something's authority or power.

Example

He had no choice but to yield to his boss's demands and work overtime.

succumb to

To give in or submit to a temptation or pressure.

Example

Despite his efforts to quit smoking, he eventually succumbed to the addiction and started smoking again.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

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Differences in give up on vs give up to: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: give up on or give up to?

In everyday conversation, give up on is more common than give up to. This is because give up on is used more frequently in daily life when talking about giving up on a task or a person. Give up to is less common and is usually used in specific situations such as surrendering to an enemy or giving in to temptation.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of give up on and give up to

Give up on and give up to are both informal phrases used in casual conversations. However, give up to can be used in more formal settings such as legal or military contexts.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of give up on and give up to

The tone of give up on and give up to can differ based on context. Give up on often carries a tone of disappointment or resignation, while give up to can carry a tone of defeat or submission.

give up on & give up to: Synonyms and Antonyms

Give up to

Synonyms

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