giving up the ghost
Breathing one's last
Giving up the ghost means dying or ceasing to function.
The ghost is the spirit or life force departing the body at death.
The expression now applies freely to machines and objects that stop working: My old laptop finally gave up the ghost.
It can also mean abandoning an effort: After three failed attempts, she gave up the ghost on the project.
- expireCease to be valid
- ceaseTo discontinue activity
- dyingCeasing to live
- swan songFinal work or performance
- dieStop being alive
succumb · last hurrah · perish · shuffle off this mortal coil · curtain call · final curtain · quit · throw in the towel · wave the white flag · demise · terminate · pass away · flatline · kick the bucket · push up daisies · cash in one's chips · go belly up · relinquish
- surrendersurrender, surrenders, surrendering, I surrender, capitulate
giving up the ghostliving
Currently having breath
surviving · staying alive · cheating death · holding on · recovering
giving up the ghosthanging in there
persevering · soldiering on · keeping going · pressing on · sticking it out
giving up the ghostrecovering
Regaining health or strength
bouncing back · pulling through · rallying · reviving · turning the corner
give, gives, givers, giving, forgive, forgiven, forgiveness, ghost, ghosts