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to give one's best

to give one's best

2.8
To try as hard as you can when doing something
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : dar lo mejor de uno mismo
  • Have you ever played a game where you were distracted or upset, and couldn't find it in you to give your best effort?

Examples

  • Since we're undermanned, l'm counting on each one of you to give his best.

  • Remember, always give your best.

  • I want you to go out there and give your best effort into your own individual match and challenge your teammates to do the same.

  • The true example of what is possible when we give our best.

  • Give your best.

  • In every competition, it is important to give one's best to achieve success.

  • The coach reminded us to give our best during the final match to secure victory.

  • If you want to impress your boss, make sure to give your best on the project.

Synonyms

to go all out
vsto give one's best
39 4.1

To try as hard as you can with a lot of energy

focuses more on quality of performance than on showy energy
to try our best
vsto give one's best
14 2.1

To make as much effort as you can to reach a goal

applies broadly to personal performance rather than group efforts
to do one's utmost
vsto give one's best
5 3.2

To try as hard as possible

is about doing a task as well as one possibly can
to give it one's all
vsto give one's best
4 4.9

To try as hard as possible using all your energy

covers general performance quality rather than only energetic effort
to give 110%
vsto give one's best
  • Informal
2 6.4

To try as hard as possible and do more than people expect

refers to doing a task as well as possible without extra exaggeration
to spare no effort
vsto give one's best
2 3.9

Do everything possible to achieve something

emphasizes doing a task well, not only relentless effort
to do one's best
vsto give one's best
1 2.5

To try as hard as you can to do something well

stresses achieving the best possible performance rather than effort alone
to do one's damnedest
vsto give one's best
  • NSFW
1 8.6

To try very hard to do something

expresses doing a task well without stressing strong emotion
to give one's all
vsto give one's best
  • Informal
3.8

Put in as much effort and energy as possible

focuses on performing a task as well as one can
to put one's darnedest
vsto give one's best
  • Informal
7.8

To try as hard as possible to do something

is the neutral expression for performing a task as well as possible
to put in a hundred and ten percent
vsto give one's best
  • Informal
5.9

To work as hard as you can, often more than expected

means performing as well as possible without implying excess effort
to give full measure
vsto give one's best
5.4

Try as hard as possible to do something well

is more about meeting performance standards than highlighting commitment

Antonyms

To do worse than expected or needed

How Hard

to give one's all
  • Informal
3.8
to go all out
39 4.1
to give one's best
  • Informal
2.8
try
  • Specialized
423 1.0

Surface Forms

give one's best infinitive
given one's best past participle
giving one's best present participle
gives one's best third person singular

Morphology

give + one's + best

The meaning is directly compositional: 'give' (to provide), 'one's' (possessive), and 'best' (one's greatest effort) combine to mean 'provide one's greatest effort.' A B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer this sense, and similar constructions exist across many languages, making it transparent.

Etymology

The phrase give one's best paints a simple image of offering your strongest thing: give means to offer and best means your finest or strongest part. So when you give your best you are offering your strongest effort, which is why it means 'to try as hard as you can'.