Meaning trap
give in to
yield to temptation
to allow yourself to be controlled by a feeling, desire, or temptation, especially when you know you probably should not
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to allow yourself to be controlled by a feeling, desire, or temptation, especially when you know you probably should not
'give in to' also has the more basic meaning 'agree after refusing'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Despite her best efforts, she eventually gave in to the temptation of eating chocolate late at night.psychology
- Many people struggle to maintain healthy habits because they frequently give in to the urge to procrastinate or indulge in unhealthy foods.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: give in to + [abstract noun] (e.g. temptation, pressure, desire)
WrongI gave in the temptation.
RightI gave in to temptation.
Don't drop 'to' — it's 'give in TO temptation / the urge'.
Patterngive in to + [abstract noun] (e.g. temptation, pressure, desire)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Give in to temptation' is the set phrase; 'succumb to' is literary/formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
give in to + temptation/urgetemptationthe urgecravingsa craving
Don't confuse it
Unlike the B2 sense of 'give in to' (agreeing after refusing someone else's request), this sense is about surrendering to an internal feeling or temptation, not to another person's demands.
Related
- give in to (agree after refusing) — 'give in to' also has the more basic meaning 'agree after refusing'; this is the advanced sense.