give up — quit a habit
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To stop doing something that you do regularly, especially something unhealthy or unwanted.
Say it like a native
Textbook I have ceased my consumption of cigarettes.
Native I've given up smoking.
'Give up' is the natural verb for quitting a habit; 'ceased my consumption of' is absurdly formal in speech.
Pattern: give up (something)
In use
- He gave up smoking last year and feels much healthier now.health
- Many people try to give up unhealthy habits, but it can be very challenging without support.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I gave up to smoke.
✓ I gave up smoking.
'Give up' + -ing for a habit, not a to-infinitive.
Common collocations
give up + habit— smoking, caffeine, sugar, drinking
Don't confuse it
Different from 'cut down on', which means to do something less often, not stop completely.
Related
- give up (stop trying) — Another meaning of 'give up' is 'stop trying'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.