to give chase
- phrasal verb
- When he saw the thief grab his bag, he quickly gave chase to catch him.
I'm sure if I would have taken off running, he wouldn't have given chase.
- I'm sure if I would have taken off running, he wouldn't have given chase.
Examples
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Obviously, it had spotted a rabbit and was giving chase.
Fiction book (2000) -
The shaken Catherine takes a moment to collect herself, then gives chase.
Fiction book (2000) -
A number of officers gave chase.
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So I gave chase on foot.
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- A patrol car gave chase.
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Anthony was encouraged by this and gave chase through the fog.
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Now officer Jessi gives chase.
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In California, police give chase to vehicles at high speeds more than 5,000 times per year.
Academic text (1997) -
The Gauls fell back and the Romans gave chase into the woods.
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The angry bellow behind her told her that Dumont was giving chase.
Fiction book (1992)
Synonyms
To try to get something you want, like a job or a goal
To run after someone or something to catch them
Try to get something you want or follow someone to catch them
To chase someone or something without stopping to catch them
Follow someone closely to try to catch them
To follow someone closely and keep causing them trouble
To follow and catch a person, animal or vehicle
To run after someone or something to catch them
Do a lot of things for someone who keeps asking for help
Antonyms
How Aggressive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to start chasing' is partially deducible because 'chase' clearly denotes pursuit and in the construction 'give chase' the verb 'give' functions to initiate or cause that action (similar to patterns like 'give notice' or 'give birth'). However, this 'give + noun' causative/performative pattern is somewhat idiomatic and formal, so a B1 learner who knows the words may not automatically predict the verb use without prior exposure.
Etymology
The verb give chase comes from old hunting scenes. Hunters would give their dogs or horses to the hunt, letting them loose to chase the animal, so give chase now means 'to start chasing someone or something'.