give up vs. give in

[Clark]

What is the difference between these two combinations when they both mean to admit defeat?

[David L.]

give up : cease making an effort; resign oneself to failure.

If you are trying to solve a difficult problem, but can't, then you might say, "Oh, I give up." Also applies to trying to put together Ikea furniture!
Or the person asking a riddle might say to the other, "Do you give up?"

give in : cease fighting or arguing; yield; surrender
Two people are having a wrestling match, and John has Paul in some hold that he can't break out of. John might then ask,"Do you give in?" That is, 'surrender'.

Recognizing in oneself that you can't 'win' or 'do it' - that the situation, whether a battle or a riddle, has defeated you - will then cause you to 'give up' or 'give in'
Any clearer or not?

[amigos4]

Some more examples:

You've lost something. You look for it. After a while you get tired of looking, so you stop looking. You give up looking.

Every time you go past the toy shop, your little girl says "Mommy, may I please have a new doll?"
After the 50th time, you give in [to her pleading], and buy the new doll.

Cheers,
Amigo

[Clark]

Will it be right to say that

- 'give up' implies man -- thing (or idea) interraction, and
- 'give in' man -- man interrection?

[banderas]

Will it be right to say that

- 'give up' implies man -- thing (or idea) interraction, and
- 'give in' man -- man interrection? I think so. Note that sometimes it is difficult to say if the interaction is between a man and a thing or a man and a man, as in:
1. You'll never guess the answer - do you give in?
2. You'll never guess the answer - do you give up?
Both work.
Tell me about the interaction in my examples?

j

[Kraken]

Will it be right to say that

- 'give up' implies man -- thing (or idea) interraction, and
- 'give in' man -- man interrection?

Hmm, that's the kind of question I rather pass on, since there are English speakers who can give a more accurate answer.

But in case it helps, when I think of the clearest example of "give up", I always think of "give up smoking". You stop doing something as opposed to "give in" which means "surrender".

I daresay "give up" comes followed by a gerund, at least most of the times, whereas "give in" does not.

Again, I'm just a student.

[banderas]

But in case it helps, when I think of the clearest example of "give up", I always think of "give up smoking". You stop doing something as opposed to "give in" which means "surrender".

Good explanation!

[Clark]

Hmm, that's the kind of question I rather pass on, since there are English speakers who can give a more accurate answer.

But in case it helps, when I think of the clearest example of "give up", I always think of "give up smoking". You stop doing something as opposed to "give in" which means "surrender".

I daresay "give up" comes followed by a gerund, at least most of the times, whereas "give in" does not.

Again, I'm just a student.

Right, Kraken. This is another distinguishing feature. It refers to the valency of the units in question.

[Clark]

j

By using in/up you have already prompted me the right interpretation. It happens quite often when one and the same fact can be interpreted differently. That's what language is about - man's mind.

[David L.]

Let's just stop for a moment. What are we talking about here?

Tell me, how is 'give up smoking' a defeat in the sense of resigning oneself to failure?

I think we've got lost here!!