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Glite Dictionary
to give a miss

to give a miss

7.3
Decide not to go to an event or activity
  • phrasal verb
  • UK
translation icon : dar un plantón
  • She usually attends the seminar, but this week she decided to give it a miss.

Examples

  • I'm feeling tired tonight, so I think I'll give the pub a miss.

  • If you don't feel well, you can always give the class a miss.

  • I will give a miss to the party tonight.

  • She gave a miss to the meeting last week.

  • I'm feeling tired tonight, so I think I'll give the pub a miss.

  • If you don't feel well, you can always give the class a miss.

  • She usually attends the seminar, but this week she decided to give it a miss.

Synonyms

to skip
vsto give a miss
397 1.1

To deliberately not attend something such as a class or meeting

is limited to choosing not to attend events rather than moving past items
to blow off
vsto give a miss
  • Informal
103 7.0

To not attend or take part in something you should, often to do something else instead

is a neutral decision to avoid attendance without rude intent
to pass up
vsto give a miss
63 4.1

To choose not to accept a good offer or chance

is about avoiding attendance at events rather than refusing opportunities
to opt out
vsto give a miss
50 3.5

To choose not to take part in something

is a more casual choice to avoid attending an event
to sit out
vsto give a miss
11 3.3

Not take part in an activity, often because someone is hurt or chooses not to

is mainly a voluntary decision to avoid attending activities

Antonyms

to join
∞ 1.0

Become a member of a group or take part in its activities

to attend
∞ 1.7

To be present at a meeting or event

How Likely

to attend
∞ 1.7
to give a miss
  • UK
7.3
boycott
80 4.3

Surface Forms

give a miss infinitive
gave a miss past
given a miss past participle
giving a miss present participle
gives a miss third person singular

Morphology

give + a + miss

The core sense relates to 'miss' (to be absent from), so a learner who knows 'miss' can partly infer that 'give (it) a miss' involves not attending. However, the 'give X a miss' construction is colloquial and idiomatic (especially in British English) and the role of 'give' here is not transparently compositional, so the meaning is not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Give a miss comes from a simple everyday picture: someone offers you something and you give the event a miss by letting it pass without taking part. So give a miss means 'to skip' or 'not attend'.