Phrasal Verbs 1 min read Published January 2025 10 learners asked about this

What does "give away" mean?

Q: Is "give away" formal or informal?

Both meanings are casual to neutral. Giveaway as a noun is common in marketing.

Q: What's another way to say "give away"?

"Let the cat out of the bag" - reveal a secret"Spoil it" - ruin a surprise"Tip someone off" - reveal information to someone

Two main meanings:1. To give something without charge:"She gave away most of her clothes to charity.""The company is giving away free samples.""He gave his ticket away at the last minute."2. To reveal a secret or ruin a surprise:"Don't give away the ending!""His expression gave him away." (reveal...

Two main meanings

1. To give something without charge

"She gave away most of her clothes to charity."
"The company is giving away free samples."
"He gave his ticket away at the last minute."

2. To reveal a secret or ruin a surprise

"Don't give away the ending!"
"His expression gave him away." (revealed his feelings)
"She gave away the surprise party details."

Giveaway (noun)

"The logo is a dead giveaway." - an obvious clue that reveals something
"They're running a giveaway on social media." - prize/free item promotion

Separable

"Give away the prize." ✓ / "Give the prize away." ✓ / "Give it away." ✓

In weddings

"He gave the bride away." - walked her down the aisle (traditional ceremony)

Register

Both meanings are casual to neutral. Giveaway as a noun is common in marketing.

A native would say (meaning 2)

"Let the cat out of the bag" - reveal a secret
"Spoil it" - ruin a surprise
"Tip someone off" - reveal information to someone