give up the ghost

== English == === Etymology === Literally, to release one's spirit or soul from the body at death. From Middle English "gaf up þe gost", "ʒave up þe gost", from Old English phrases as "hēo āġeaf hire gāst" (literally, "she gave up her ghost [spirit]"), "þæt iċ gāst mīnne āġifan mōte" (literally, "that I must give up my ghost [spirit]"). Compare German den Geist aufgeben and Dutch de geest geven. Perhaps most notable and survived in modern English for being used in traditional translation during the death of Jesus during His crucifixion: The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 1611, →OCLC, Matthew 27:50: “¶ Iesus, when hee had cried againe with a loud voice, yeelded vp the ghost.” === Pronunciation === === Verb === give up the ghost (third-person singular simple present gives up the ghost, present participle giving up the ghost, simple past gave up the ghost, past participle given up the ghost) (intransitive, idiomatic) To cease clinging to life; to die. Synonyms: yield up the ghost, yield the ghost; see also Thesaurus:die (intransitive, idiomatic, figuratively) To quit; to cease functioning. (intransitive) To cede a commitment to or identification with. [with of] ==== Translations ==== === See also === draw one's last breath give up