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Meaning trap

give in

agree reluctantly

To finally agree to do something you did not want to do, usually after being pressured or persuaded.

phrasal verbB1common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

agree reluctantly

To finally agree to do something you did not want to do, usually after being pressured or persuaded.

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Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • After hours of begging, her parents finally gave in and let her go to the party.daily life
  • In my opinion, parents shouldn't always give in to their children's demands, as it can lead to bad habits.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: give in (to someone/something)

WrongI gave in his request.

RightI gave in to his request. / I gave in.

When you name what you yield to, use 'give in TO'; bare 'give in' takes no object.

Patterngive in (to someone/something)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff Eventually I conceded to their demands.

Natural In the end I just gave in.

'Give in' is the natural way to say you stopped resisting; 'concede to demands' is formal.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • give in (to)
    eventuallyin the endto pressurefinally

Don't confuse it

'Give in' is about agreeing after some resistance, while 'give up' means to stop trying.

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