Top 40 Slang For Give – Meaning & Usage

When it comes to expressing the act of giving in a cool and trendy way, the English language has got you covered. From casual conversations to social media posts, the slang for “give” is constantly evolving. In this listicle, we’ve gathered the top slang terms that will add a touch of flair to your everyday vocabulary. So, get ready to level up your linguistic game and find out how to give in style!

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1. Fork over

This phrase is often used when someone is asked to give something, especially money, and they do so begrudgingly or with hesitation.

For example, “I had to fork over $50 to get my car out of the impound.”
In a negotiation, one party might say, “If you want this information, you’ll have to fork over some cash.”
A parent might say to their child, “If you want to go out with your friends, you’ll have to fork over some of your allowance.”

2. Pass on

This phrase is used when someone chooses not to give or share something that has been offered to them.

For instance, if someone offers you a piece of cake and you don’t want it, you might say, “I’ll pass on that.”
In a conversation about donating to a charity, someone might say, “I decided to pass on donating this time.”
A friend might offer you their old clothes, but you decline by saying, “Thanks, but I’ll pass on those.”

3. Shell out

This phrase is used when someone spends or gives a significant amount of money, often reluctantly or unexpectedly.

For example, “I had to shell out $500 for car repairs.”
In a discussion about expensive concert tickets, someone might say, “I’m not willing to shell out that much money for a show.”
A parent might complain, “I’m always shelling out money for my kids’ school expenses.”

4. Dish out

This phrase is used when someone gives or distributes something, often without much thought or effort.

For instance, “She dished out compliments to everyone at the party.”
In a conversation about a potluck dinner, someone might say, “I’ll dish out the mashed potatoes.”
A teacher might distribute papers to their students by saying, “I’ll dish these out to each of you.”

5. Hand down

This phrase is used when someone gives or passes on something, typically from an older generation to a younger one.

For example, “My grandmother handed down her antique necklace to me.”
In a discussion about family traditions, someone might say, “We hand down our holiday recipes from generation to generation.”
A parent might pass down their old baseball glove to their child and say, “I used this when I was your age, now it’s yours.”

6. Give a hand

To offer assistance or support to someone.

For example, “Can you give me a hand with these groceries?”
A coworker might say, “I’ll give you a hand with that project.”
In a group project, someone might ask, “Can someone give me a hand with this task?”

7. Give a shout-out

To publicly recognize or mention someone or something in a positive way.

For instance, “I want to give a shout-out to my amazing team for their hard work.”
A social media influencer might say, “I want to give a shout-out to this brand for their amazing products.”
During an award ceremony, a presenter might give a shout-out to the nominees.

8. Give the go-ahead

To grant permission or approval for something to proceed.

For example, “Once the boss gives the go-ahead, we can start the project.”
A parent might say, “I’ll give you the go-ahead to go to the party, but be back by midnight.”
In a meeting, a team leader might say, “Let’s wait until we get the go-ahead from upper management.”

9. Give someone the cold shoulder

To intentionally ignore or snub someone, often as a form of punishment or disapproval.

For instance, “After their argument, she gave him the cold shoulder for days.”
In a social setting, someone might say, “I don’t know why she’s giving me the cold shoulder.”
A friend might ask, “Why are you giving me the cold shoulder? Did I do something wrong?”

10. Give someone the benefit of the doubt

To believe or trust someone’s statement or actions without strong evidence or proof.

For example, “Even though he was late, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume there was traffic.”
If someone apologizes sincerely, you might say, “I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and accept your apology.”
A teacher might say, “I always try to give my students the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.”

11. Provide

To give or supply something that is needed or wanted. “Provide” is a formal term that implies offering assistance or meeting a need.

For example, a teacher might say, “Please provide your own art supplies for this project.”
A company might advertise, “We provide high-quality customer service.”
In a conversation about supporting a cause, someone might suggest, “Let’s all provide donations to help those in need.”

12. Bestow

To give someone something valuable or desirable. “Bestow” often implies giving an honor or privilege.

For instance, a king might bestow a knighthood upon a loyal subject.
In a graduation ceremony, a speaker might say, “Today, we bestow upon you the title of graduate.”
A parent might bestow a family heirloom upon their child as a sign of trust and responsibility.

13. Contribute

To give or provide something, often in the context of joining others in a collective effort or contributing to a cause.

For example, a team member might say, “I’ll contribute my expertise to this project.”
In a discussion about fundraising, someone might suggest, “Let’s all contribute a small amount to reach our goal.”
A friend might offer, “I’ll contribute some snacks for the party.”

14. Yield

To give up or surrender to someone or something more powerful or persuasive. “Yield” often implies a sense of submission or surrendering to a greater force.

For instance, a driver might yield to another car at a stop sign.
In a debate, someone might yield to an opponent’s argument if they find it more convincing.
A person might yield to temptation and indulge in a guilty pleasure.

15. Surrender

To relinquish control or give in to someone or something. “Surrender” often implies admitting defeat or accepting a difficult situation.

For example, a soldier might surrender to the enemy during a battle.
In a game, a player might surrender if they realize they cannot win.
A person might surrender their pride and apologize for a mistake.

16. Extend

To offer or provide something to someone.

For example, “I’ll extend an invitation to the party.”
A boss might extend a deadline for a project.
A friend might extend a helping hand to someone in need.

17. Grant

To give or allow someone to have something.

For instance, “The foundation will grant scholarships to deserving students.”
A teacher might grant an extension for a student’s assignment.
A government might grant a person’s request for asylum.

18. Present

To give something to someone as a gift or offering.

For example, “He presented her with a bouquet of flowers.”
A company might present an employee with an award for their achievements.
A child might present their parent with a homemade card on Mother’s Day.

19. Donate

To give money, goods, or services to a charitable cause or organization.

For instance, “She donated a large sum of money to the local animal shelter.”
A person might donate clothes to a homeless shelter.
A company might donate products to a disaster relief effort.

20. Deliver

To bring or supply something to someone.

For example, “The courier will deliver the package tomorrow.”
A restaurant might deliver food to a customer’s home.
A speaker might deliver a presentation to an audience.

21. Provide for

When a parent says, “I will always provide for you,” they mean they will ensure their child has everything they need.

A company might state, “We provide for our employees by offering comprehensive benefits.”
In a discussion about charitable organizations, someone might say, “Their mission is to provide for those in need.”

22. Pass along

If you receive an interesting article and want to share it with a friend, you can say, “I’ll pass it along.”

When leaving a message for a coworker, you might say, “Could you please pass this message along to Sarah?”
A teacher might instruct their students, “Pass along the papers to the person behind you.”

23. Entrust

When a parent leaves their child in the care of a babysitter, they are entrusting them with their child’s well-being.

A manager might say, “I’m entrusting you with this project because I believe in your abilities.”
In a discussion about leadership, someone might state, “A good leader knows when to entrust their team with important tasks.”

24. Hand over

When a police officer asks for your identification, you must hand it over.

In a negotiation, one party might say, “If you meet our demands, we will hand over the necessary documents.”
A teacher might tell their students, “Please hand over your homework assignments before leaving the classroom.”

25. Dispense

A pharmacist dispenses medication to patients based on their prescriptions.

In a conversation about vending machines, someone might say, “They dispense snacks and beverages.”
A teacher might explain, “I will dispense the worksheets at the beginning of class.”

26. Pass down

This term refers to giving or transferring something to someone else, often from one generation to the next. It can also mean passing on knowledge or traditions.

For example, a parent might say, “I want to pass down this family heirloom to you.”
In a discussion about family traditions, someone might mention, “We pass down our recipes from generation to generation.”
A teacher might say, “It’s important to pass down our knowledge to the next generation.”

27. Impart

To impart is to give or share something, typically knowledge, information, or wisdom. It involves passing on something valuable or meaningful to someone else.

For instance, a mentor might say, “I want to impart my years of experience to you.”
In a classroom setting, a teacher might say, “My goal is to impart a love of learning to my students.”
A motivational speaker might say, “I’m here to impart some words of inspiration and motivation.”

28. Allocate

Allocating means to give or distribute resources, such as money, time, or materials, in a planned and organized way. It involves assigning or designating something to a specific purpose or recipient.

For example, a manager might say, “We need to allocate our budget wisely.”
In a discussion about project management, someone might say, “We need to allocate our resources efficiently.”
A government official might say, “We allocate funds to various social programs.”

29. Bequeath

To bequeath is to give or leave something, usually property or an inheritance, to someone through a legal will. It involves passing down assets or possessions to future generations or chosen beneficiaries.

For instance, a wealthy individual might bequeath their estate to a charity.
In a discussion about inheritance, someone might say, “My grandmother bequeathed her jewelry collection to me.”
A lawyer might explain, “The deceased’s will bequeaths their assets to their children.”

30. Lend

Lending refers to temporarily giving or allowing someone to use something, typically money or an item, with the expectation of it being returned or repaid.

For example, a friend might say, “Can you lend me some money until payday?”
In a discussion about borrowing, someone might say, “I always lend books to my friends.”
A financial advisor might recommend, “Only lend money to someone you trust and have a written agreement in place.”

31. Divulge

To reveal or disclose information that was meant to be kept secret. “Divulge” is a more formal term for sharing confidential or private information.

For example, a friend might say, “Come on, divulge the details of your date last night!”
In a crime investigation, a detective might ask a suspect, “Are you ready to divulge the location of the stolen goods?”
A journalist might write, “The whistleblower finally decided to divulge the truth about the company’s illegal activities.”

32. Devote

To give one’s time, effort, or attention to a particular task, activity, or cause. “Devote” implies a strong dedication or loyalty to something.

For instance, a teacher might say, “I devote my weekends to grading papers and preparing lessons.”
A musician might declare, “I’ve devoted my entire life to mastering the guitar.”
A parent might say, “I devote myself to providing the best possible upbringing for my children.”

33. Sock

To give or pass something to someone. “Sock” is a slang term often used in casual conversations.

For example, a friend might ask, “Can you sock me the remote control?”
In a restaurant, a customer might say to the server, “Could you sock me the check, please?”
A coworker might say, “I’ll sock you the file as soon as I finish scanning it.”

34. Distribute

To give or hand out items to a group of people. “Distribute” is a more formal term, while “pass out” is a colloquial expression.

For instance, a teacher might distribute worksheets to students at the beginning of a class.
During a charity event, volunteers might pass out food and supplies to those in need.
A coach might say, “Let’s distribute the team uniforms before the game starts.”

35. Serve up

To provide or present something to someone. “Serve up” is a more casual and informal way of saying “deliver.”

For example, a chef might say, “I’m going to serve up a delicious meal for you.”
In a business meeting, a presenter might say, “Now, let’s serve up the latest sales figures.”
A friend might ask, “Can you serve me up some juicy gossip?”

36. Gift

To give something as a present or token of goodwill. The term “gift” is commonly used to refer to something given voluntarily without payment or expectation of return.

For instance, “I decided to gift my sister a new book for her birthday.”
In a discussion about holiday traditions, someone might mention, “Exchanging gifts is a common practice during Christmas.”
A person might say, “I wanted to show my appreciation, so I gifted my boss a bottle of wine.”

37. Convey

To give or pass something to someone else. The term “convey” often implies the act of transporting or transmitting something from one person to another.

For example, “I need to convey this message to the manager as soon as possible.”
In a business context, someone might say, “The purpose of this meeting is to convey the new company policies.”
A person discussing legal matters might explain, “The deed is used to convey ownership of the property.”

38. Yield up

To give up or relinquish something, often under pressure or force. The term “yield up” implies a sense of submission or surrendering to a more powerful entity or individual.

For instance, “The thief was forced to yield up the stolen goods.”
In a military context, someone might say, “The enemy was finally forced to yield up their position.”
A person discussing negotiations might mention, “Sometimes, you have to yield up certain demands to reach a compromise.”

39. Cede

To give up or surrender control or possession of something. The term “cede” often implies a formal transfer of power or authority.

For example, “The country was forced to cede territory to its neighboring nation.”
In a political discussion, someone might say, “The president should never cede their power to an outside entity.”
A person discussing property rights might explain, “If you cede ownership of the land, you no longer have control over it.”

To give a portion or part of something to someone else. The term “share” often implies the act of dividing or distributing something among multiple individuals or groups.

For instance, “Can you share your notes with me for the upcoming exam?”
In a conversation about food, someone might say, “Let’s share this pizza so everyone gets a slice.”
A person discussing resources might mention, “We need to share the workload evenly to avoid burnout.”