GIVE / TAKE

When I was growing up in middle America, in mid-century 1900s, I recall a lot of phrases that made complete sense then--but today--well, sometimes not so much. 

Some we still use. For example, GIVE.

   GIVE UP - no question what that means--stop trying; but it can also mean, hand it over

   GIVE IN - similar to GIVE UP; but more a sense of reluctance, perhaps

   GIVE OUT - we've probably all been there; end of energy.

   or GIVE OUT - as a description of how we handled a situation, perhaps in a negative way

   GIVE WAY - maybe a little less antagonistic way of giving up

   GIVE OVER - get out of the way; back down

Then there's TAKE.

   TAKE OVER - what one company (or person) does to another

   TAKE OUT - sometimes TAKE AWAY - mostly used to describe meals

   TAKE UP - start a new thing (take up kayaking)

   TAKE IN - usually used in a negative way (can't take it in--can't understand it); or

      TAKE IN a poor relative who has no place to go (lot of that in the Great Depression)

      There's also Taking In a pair of pants so they will fit better; mine is mostly "letting out" so I don't have much experience in this line.

   TAKE ON - used in my childhood to describe emoting--she does take on so

   TAKE IT - not stealing; just have to accept whatever it is

Another phrase I recall was meant to explain an approximation: We have 500 acres, give or take. Maybe 500, maybe a little more, maybe a little less. More colloquial in use, less ostentatious.

Then there are the uses of GIVE and TAKE alone; for example:

   GIVE my love

   GIVE you my hand in marriage

   GIVE someone a hard time; be difficult, argumentative

   GIVE me a f'r instance

   and one I've had to explain, from time to time, GIVEN . . . which means, let's assume this is true, then such-and-such follows

   TAKE, as an example, ABC

   TAKE care

   TAKE A PICTURE

   TAKE pills

   and TAKEN, meaning not available because it's already in use, or chosen by someone else

And there's always the GIVE AND TAKE of life--sometimes one, sometimes the other.

Do you recall other uses of GIVE or TAKE? Share them with the class!

Blessings freely given, take as many as you need,

Thursday's Child

Help yourself!