give away
[verb]
Synonyms: reveal, betray, disclose, divulge, expose, leak, let out, let slip, uncover

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English Thesaurus: reveal, tell, disclose, divulge, make something public, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

give somebody/something away phrasal verb (see also give)

1. to give something to someone because you do not want or need it for yourself:
I gave most of my books away when I left college.
give somebody/something away to
Give your old clothes away to a thrift shop.

2. to give something to someone without asking for any money, rather than selling it to them:
We’re giving away a free diary with tomorrow’s newspaper.
give somebody/something away to
We have 1,000 CDs to give away to our readers.

3. to show where someone is or what they are doing or thinking when they are trying to keep this a secret:
Don’t worry, I won’t give you away.
Sue tried to smile, but her voice gave her away.
give yourself away
I knew that if I moved I would give myself away.
The look on his face gave the game away (=showed something that he was trying to keep secret).

4. to tell someone something that you should keep secret:
He gave away as little information as possible.
I don’t want to give away exactly how the system works.
I don’t want to give the game away (=give information that should be secret) by saying too much.

5. to lose in a game or competition by doing something badly or making mistakes:
We gave away two goals in the first half.
The Democrats are now in danger of giving the whole election away.

6. to give formal permission for a woman to marry a man as part of a traditional wedding ceremony

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

reveal to let someone know about something that is secret or has not been known until now:
Doctors are not allowed to reveal confidential information.
It was revealed that he had smoked marijuana at college.
tell to talk about something to someone, so that they know about it:
Don’t tell anyone about this just yet.
Shall I tell you a secret?
disclose formal to publicly reveal something such as a fact or a name that has been kept secret:
The terms of the agreement have not yet been disclosed.
The agent did not disclose that there had been a violent crime in the house.
divulge //daɪˈvʌldʒ, də-// formal to reveal important or personal information which was previously secret or unknown:
The bank has refused to divulge its plans.
I’m afraid I cannot divulge what was said to me.
make something public to tell people about important information, especially after it has been kept secret:
Apparently they were engaged for some time before making it public.
The government has agreed that sources of financing should in future be made public.
leak to deliberately give secret information to a newspaper, television company etc, when a government or other organization wants to keep it secret:
The contents of the email were leaked to the press.
A man was charged today with leaking official secrets.
give something away (also spill the beans informal) to tell someone something that you want to keep secret:
He was careful not to give away any trade secrets.
I’m not going to give away how much I paid for it!
let slip informal to accidentally tell someone about something:
He let slip that he was envious of his older brother.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

give away
give (someone/something) away
to tell or show something that is private or secret.
She didn't want us to know she was upset, but the look on her face gave her away.

I haven't seen the movie yet, so don't give away the ending.

Usage notes: said about something you do whether or not you intend to do it

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

give something away
give (someone/something) away
to tell or show something that is private or secret.
She didn't want us to know she was upset, but the look on her face gave her away.

I haven't seen the movie yet, so don't give away the ending.

Usage notes: said about something you do whether or not you intend to do it

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

give away
1. • give away (a secret)
to let a secret become known
I do not want my friend to give away my plans to go to Mexico for a holiday.

2. • give away (something)
to give something to someone
I decided to give away my bicycle because I did not need it anymore.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

give away something
• give away (something)
to give something to someone
I decided to give away my bicycle because I did not need it anymore.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

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.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲