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

give one’s life for something • give one’s life to
something
give one’s life for something —(also: lay down one’s life for some-
thing ) allow oneself to die for a good cause, etc.: This mon-
ument is to honor soldiers who gave their life for the cause of
liberty.
give one’s life to something —dedicate one’s whole life to
smth.: Socrates gave his life to the study of questions that have
seized the minds of thinking people down the ages.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase give life to something— impart interest, energ y, or en -
thu siasm to smth.: Experienced actors could be contracted to
give life to the play so that the work stands the best chance of
attracting an audience.
give one’s respects to someone • pay one’s respects
to someone
give one’s respects to someone —send a formal expression of
respect for smb. through another person: Give my respects to
your Father, whose pamphlet I read with great interest.
pay one’s respects to someone —show respect for a person by
presenting oneself or by making a call: They were not “ardent
royalists,” but had come to pay their respects to a great woman.
give one’s word • give the word
give one’s word —
1
. give one’s promise: He gave his word as
a scholar not to publish works that were made available to
him. 2. express one’s assurance: I’m positive he’s capable of
carrying out the mission. I give my word that he is fine. 3.
give expression to smth.; put smth. into words: He visited the
homes of the sick to give his word of advice or sympathy.
give the word —command a person to do smth.: Jack told
them to wait till he gave the word, and then to make all the
noise they could.
give oneself a shot in the arm • shoot oneself in
the foot
give oneself a shot in the arm —inject oneself with a drug:
The next day I got enough courage to do it myself and I gave
myself a shot in the arm. The needle did not hurt going in…
shoot onself in the foot—act against one’s own interest: You’re
shooting yourself in the foot if you use the “can’t afford the
time” excuse. In reality, you can’t afford not to.