give out — stop working
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
to stop working or functioning, usually because of being old or used too much.
Say it like a native
Textbook My legs ceased to function after the marathon.
Native My legs gave out after the marathon.
For a body part or machine failing from strain, natives say 'give out'. 'Ceased to function' is robotic.
Pattern: give out
In use
- My phone finally gave out after years of use.health
- During the hike, my old backpack gave out and the straps broke, so I had to carry everything by hand.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ My phone gave out of battery.
✓ My phone died. / My phone ran out of battery.
'Give out' = fail from wear (engine, knees, voice). For a battery or supply ending, use 'run out' or 'die'.
Common collocations
give out— my legs, the engine, her voice, the old boiler
Don't confuse it
'Give out' (stop working) is not the same as 'run out', which means to have nothing left.
Related
- give out (distribute) — Another meaning of 'give out' is 'distribute'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.