Meaning trap
give up
stop trying
To stop making an effort to do something because it is too difficult or seems impossible.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To stop making an effort to do something because it is too difficult or seems impossible.
Another meaning of 'give up' is 'quit a habit'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- After several failed attempts, she decided to give up learning the guitar.daily life
- I used to find English listening exercises very difficult, but I didn’t give up. I kept practicing until I improved.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: give up (doing) something
WrongDon't give up to try.
RightDon't give up. / Don't stop trying.
'Give up' is usually used alone or with -ing; 'give up to try' is not English.
Patterngive up (doing) something
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Give up' is the natural verb for stopping out of difficulty; 'relinquished my efforts' is melodramatic.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
give up + mannertoo easilyon ithalfwayhope
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'give in', which means to finally agree to something after resisting.
Related
- give up (quit a habit) — Another meaning of 'give up' is 'quit a habit'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.