A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase have someone’s name on it—(also: have someone’s name
written all over it) 
1
. (of a bomb, bullet, etc.) be the instrument
of a person’s fate: The bomb probably had my name on it in
the first place. 2. be especially suitable or intended for a particular
person: Come on, Paul, there’s one piece of chocolate cake left
and it’s got your name on it. 3. be characteristic of a particular
person: When I heard about the prank, I felt it had Steve’s
name written all over it.
See also: put one’s name down for something / put one’s name
to something.
give a pledge • give the pledge
give a pledge —
1
. make a solemn promise: During his inau-
guration speech he gave a pledge not to declare the island
independent during his term of office. 2. promise to pay
money or make a donation: A senior member of your staff,
Charlie Phillips, acting on your behalf, gave a pledge of $
1
0
000 to a charity function.
give the pledge —
1
. = give a pledge 
1
: There was a royalist spy
in the midst playing the hypocrite — Joseph Galloway, a Penn-
sylvania delegate — who gave the pledge and broke it. 2. (of a
priest, etc.) get other people to take an oath never to drink
alcohol: Bishop Hughes formed a Catholic abstinence society
and gave the pledge to over 20,000 people. Cf.: take the
pledge — make a solemn promise never to drink alcohol: Eileen’s
husband, who is almost permanently drunk, declares that he
wants to take the pledge.
– 139 –
give a pledge

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give a promise • give promise
give a promise —undertake to do or not to do smth.: He
gave a promise that he would come again and bring assistance,
and he kept it.
give promise —
1
. be a token of smth.; indicate smth. before-
hand: A heavy mist gave promise of a hot day, and it turned
out a “scorcher.” 2. show qualities that give hope of success
or good results: These children don’t give much promise.