[ghost-writer]{n.} A writer whose identity remains a secret and who writes for another who receives all the credit. •/It is rumored that John Smith’s best-selling novel was written by a ghost-writer./

[gift of gab] or [gift of the gab] {n. phr.}, {informal} Skill in talking; ability to make interesting talk that makes people believe you. •/Many men get elected because of their gift of gab./ •/Mr. Taylor’s gift of gab helped him get a good job./

[gild the lily] also [paint the lily] {v. phr.} To add unnecessarily to something already beautiful or good enough. •/To talk about a beautiful sunset is to gild the lily./ •/For the beautiful girl to use makeup would be to gild the lily./ •/Frank’s father is a millionaire, but Frank gilds the lily by saying he is a billionaire./

[gill] See: FED TO THE GILLS at FED UP, GREEN AROUND THE GILLS or PALE AROUND THE GILLS.

[gilt-edged]{adj.} Of the highest quality. •/Government saving bonds are considered by many to be a gilt-edged investment./

[gin mill]{n.}, {slang} A bar where liquor is sold. •/Rush Street in Chicago is full of gin mills./ Syn.: SPEAKEASY.

[G.I.] or ["government issue"] {n.} An American soldier. •/After the war many GI’s were able to get a free education./

[gird one’s loins]{v. phr.}, {literary} To prepare for action; get ready for a struggle or hard work. •/David girded up his loins and went out to meet the giant Goliath./ •/Seniors must gird their loins for the battles of life./

[girl Friday]{n.} A very dependable and helpful female office worker; especially a secretary. •/Miss Johnson is the manager’s girl Friday./ •/There was an advertisement in the newspaper for a girl Friday./

[girl friend]{n.}, {informal} 1. A female friend or companion. •/Jane is spending the night at her girlfriend’s house./ 2. A boy’s steady girl; the girl or woman partner in a love affair; girl; sweetheart. •/John is taking his girl friend to the dance./ Contrast: BOYFRIEND.

[give] See: SILENCE GIVES CONSENT.

[give a buzz] See: GIVE A RING.

[give a cold shoulder] See: COLD SHOULDER.

[give a hand] See: LEND A HAND.

[give a hang] or [care a hang] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have any interest or liking; care. — Used also with other words in the place of "hang", such as "damn", "rap", "straw"; usually used in the negative. •/You can quit helping me if you want to. I don’t give a hang./ •/Some people don’t care a rap about sports./ •/Bruce never goes to the dances; he does not care a straw about dancing./

[give a hard time]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give trouble by what you do or say; complain. •/Jane gave her mother a hard time on the bus by fighting with her sister and screaming./ •/Don’t give me a hard time, George. I’m doing my best on this job./ Compare: GIVE FITS. 2. To get in the way by teasing or playing; kid. •/Don’t give me a hard time, boys. I’m trying to study./ Compare: ACT UP, IN ONE’S HAIR.

[give-and-take]{n. phr.} 1. A sharing; giving and receiving back and forth between people; a giving up by people on different sides of part of what each one wants so that they can agree. •/Jimmy is too selfish. He has no notion of give-and-take with the other children but wants everything for himself./ •/There has to be give-and-take between two countries before they can be friends./ Compare: LIVE AND LET LIVE. 2. Friendly talking or argument back and forth. Friendly sharing of ideas which may not agree; also: an exchange of teasing remarks. •/After the meeting there was a lot of give-and-take about plans for the dance./

[give an ear to] or [lend an ear to] {v. phr.}, {literary} To listen to. •/Children should give an ear to their parents' advice./ •/The king lent an ear to the complaints of his people./

[give a pain]{v. phr.}, {slang} To make (you) disgusted; annoy. •/Ann’s laziness gives her mother a pain./ •/John’s bad manners give his teacher a pain./ Compare: PAIN IN THE NECK.

[give as good as one gets]{v. phr.} To be able to give back blow for blow; defend yourself well in a fight or argument. •/The Americans gave as good as they got in the war with the English./ •/George gave as good as he got in his fight with the older boy./ Compare: EYE FOR AN EYE, GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY.

[give away]{v.} 1. To give as a present. •/Mrs. Jones has several kittens to give away./ 2. To hand over (a bride) to her husband at the wedding. •/Mr. Jackson gave away his daughter./ 3. To let (a secret) become known; tell the secret of. •/The little boy gave away his hiding place when he coughed./ •/Mary said she didn’t care anything about John, but her blushing face gave her away./ Compare: SPILL THE BEANS, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. 4. See: GIVE ONESELF AWAY.

[giveaway] or [dead giveaway] {n.} (stress on "give") 1. An open secret. •/By mid-afternoon, it was a dead giveaway who the new boss would be./ 2. A forced or sacrifice sale at which items are sold for much less than their market value. •/The Simpson’s garage sale was actually a big giveaway./ 3. A gift; something one doesn’t have to pay for. •/The tickets to the concert were a giveaway./

[give a wide berth]{v. phr.} To keep away from; keep a safe distance from. •/Mary gave the barking dog a wide berth./ •/Jack gave a wide berth to the fallen electric wires./ •/After Tom got Bob into trouble. Bob gave him a wide berth./

[give birth to]{v. phr.} 1. To bear live offspring. •/The mother gave birth to twin baby girls./ 2. To bring about; create; occasion. •/Beethoven gave birth to a new kind of symphony./

[give chase]{v. phr.} To chase or run after someone or something. •/The dog saw a rabbit and gave chase./ •/The policeman gave chase to the man who robbed the bank./

[give color to] or [lend color to] {v. phr.} To make (something) seem true or likely. •/The boy’s torn clothes gave color to his story of a fight./ •/The way the man ate lent color to his story of near starvation./

[give credence to]{v. phr.} 1. To be willing to believe that something is true. •/Larry gave credence to the rumor that Fred used to be a convict./ •/Give no credence to the rumor that our state is bankrupt; nothing could be farther from the truth./

[give fits]{v. phr.}{informal} To upset; bother very much. •/Paul’s higher grades give John fits./ •/The short guard gave his tall opponent fits./ Compare: GIVE A HARD TIME.

[give forth]{v. phr.} To emit; produce. •/When the gong was struck it gave forth a rich, resounding sound./

[give free rein to] See: GIVE REIN TO.

[give gray hair]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) anxious, confused, or worried. •/The traffic problem is enough to give a policeman gray hairs./ Compare: GET GRAY HAIR.

[give ground]{v. phr.} To go backward under attack; move back; retreat. •/After fighting for a while the troops slowly began to give ground./ •/Although they were outnumbered by the enemy, the men refused to give ground./ Compare: DRAW BACK, DROP BACK, LOSE GROUND. Contrast: HOLD ONE’S GROUND, STAND OFF, STAND ONE’S GROUND, STAND PAT, STAVE OFF.