[Idiom] Difference between give up and give out

[Fredenglish]

Hello there,

I heard the following in a movie where two men are arguing angrily. What's the difference:

Employee: "I'm very frustrated with you!"
Employer: "You mean you'r giving up?
Employee: "No, I'm giving out!"

Thank you

 

[bhaisahab]

In Irish (Hibernian) English, to "give out" is to complain angrily or strongly.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello there,

I heard the following in a movie where two men are arguing angrily. What's the difference between "giving up" and "giving out"?

Employee: "I won't work here anymore!"
Employer: "You mean you're giving up?
Employee: "No, I'm giving out!"

Thank you.

Welcome to the forum. :hi:

See my corrections above.

In BrE, "to give out" can mean "to stop functioning", although it normally refers to things, not people. It can refer to specific parts of the body - "I'm going to have to stop. My legs are giving out".
I'm not entirely clear what the employee is trying to indicate in that dialogue. Maybe there's an AmE meaning I'm not aware of which might make more sense.

(Cross-posted with bhaisahab - that was a meaning I wasn't aware of.)

 

[Tdol]

I've heard give out used with that meaning in the UK.

 

[bhaisahab]

I've heard give out used with that meaning in the UK.

I've only heard it from Irish people.

 

[Fredenglish]

Thank you all for your answers and correction.

 

[emsr2d2]

You're welcome but please note that there is no need to write a new post to say "Thank you". Simply click on the "Thank" button in the bottom left-hand corner of any post you find helpful. It saves time for everyone.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

It's the same difference in American English. To give up is to quit or surrender. To give out is to stop functioning.

You have control over when you give up. You don't have control over when you give out. That's the distinction the person in the quote is making.