1 B2 idiomatic informal
To scold or punish someone severely.
"When she found out he had lied, she really gave it to him."
inseparable
give it to someone
B2 informal inseparable transitive
To scold, punish, or criticize someone harshly, or to defeat someone convincingly.
In plain English
To punish or yell at someone very strongly, or to beat someone badly in a game or fight.
What does "give it to someone" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To defeat someone convincingly in a competition or conflict.
"The home team gave it to the visitors in the second half, scoring four goals."
inseparable
Usage tip
The phrase is idiomatic and context-dependent. In informal speech it most often means to scold or reprimand. In competitive contexts it can mean to decisively beat an opponent. Can also have a sexual connotation in some informal registers, so context is important.
Words that pair with "give it to someone"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
boss teacher opponent team player critic
How to conjugate "give it to someone"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
give it to someone
I/you/we/they
3rd person
gives it to someone
he/she/it
Past simple
gave it to someone
yesterday
Past participle
given it to someone
have + pp
-ing form
giving it to someone
continuous
Hear "give it to someone" in the wild
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