give up the ghost
Cease to function
Give up the ghost means to die or cease functioning.
The phrase comes from older translations of the Bible, where the spirit or breath leaves the body at death.
Now it applies to anything that stops working: My old laptop finally gave up the ghost.
The expression sounds slightly humorous or euphemistic when applied to machines or projects.
Cease to be valid
demise · mortality · fatality · obituary · bereavement · funeral · interment · afterlife
Failure or decomposition
die · conk out · sputter · stall · seize up · stop working · kaput · on the fritz
Yield under pressure
- yieldProduce or relinquish
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
- submitPresent for consideration
- resignVoluntarily leave office
acquiesce · relinquish · abandon · forfeit · quit · admit defeat · back down · throw in the towel
Fragment gradually
- disintegrateBreak into fragments
- fall apartBreak into pieces
- cave inCollapse or yield
- break downFail mechanically or emotionally
deteriorate · decay · fail · buckle · implode · topple · ruin · fall to pieces
expire
Cease to be valid
decease · demise · mortality · fatality · obituary · bereavement · funeral · interment · afterlife · repose
breakdown
Failure or decomposition
fault · die · conk out · sputter · stall · seize up · stop working · kaput · on the fritz · break down
capitulate
Yield under pressure
resign · acquiesce · relinquish · abandon · forfeit · quit · admit defeat · back down · throw in the towel · wave the white flag
crumble
Fragment gradually
- disintegrateBreak into fragments
- fall apartBreak into pieces
- cave inCollapse or yield
break down · deteriorate · decay · fail · buckle · implode · topple · ruin · fall to pieces · come apart
- quittingquit, resign, resignation, stop, end
- Giving Inback down, cave in, throw in the towel, wave the white flag, admit defeat
- exhaustionexhaustion, burn out, drained, spent, tired
give up the ghostsurvive
Continue to exist
live on · come back to life · pull through · revive · cheat death
give up the ghostpersist
Continue firmly onward
soldier on · keep going · come back to life · restart · chug along
give up the ghostpersevere
Continue despite obstacles
persist · carry on · keep going · soldier on · press on
give, ghost, given, giving, gives, ghosting, ghosts, ghosted