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

Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
saying one’s eyes are bigger than his stomach— one wants more
of smth. than he can handle: His eyes are bigger than his stom-
ach, or converted to garden terms, he would like to grow more
varieties than his land can accommodate.
give someone the bird • have a bird
give someone the bird —
1
. (coll.) scoff or jeer at a performer,
entertainer, etc.: Spencer’s goal-kicking was atrocious — even
the crowd began to give him the bird. 2. make a very impolite
sign by raising one’s middle finger towards smb. to show that
one is angry: He lifted his hand outside the car window and
gave me the bird.
have a bird —(U.S. sl.) react with strong anxiety or agitation
(also: have a canary): When I told my daughter she was
grounded, she had a bird … began screaming and crying.
See also: get a duck / get the bird.
give someone the freedom of the city • give
 someone the freedom of the world
give someone the freedom of the city— confer upon a person
honorary citizenship of a city: Harrison was given the freedom
of the city and was the guest of honor at the London Rotary
Club.
give someone the freedom of the world—(sl.) dismiss smb.
from employment: I used to work for IBM, but one day they
called me in and gave me the freedom of the world, so now I
have my own business.
give someone the kick • give someone the kick in
the teeth
give someone the kick —(coll.) 
1
. make smb. experience excite-
ment or pleasure: Morphine and heroin do not give normal
persons the “kick” they are supposed to give. 2. have a strong
stimulant effect on a person: It was this discourse from Osho
that gave me the kick I needed to move from the life of illu-
sion.