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Glite Dictionary
to yield up the ghost

to yield up the ghost

9.8
To stop working or to die after a long time of getting worse
  • idiom
  • Archaic
translation icon : morir
  • When the company’s finances dried up, its operations soon yielded up the ghost.

Examples

  • After years of faithful service, my laptop finally yielded up the ghost last night.

  • His old watch yielded up the ghost just before the important meeting.

  • The old car finally yielded up the ghost after years of service.

  • After a long illness, she yielded up the ghost peacefully.

  • After a long battle with illness, she finally yielded up the ghost last night.

  • The old computer yielded up the ghost after years of faithful service.

  • The engine yielded up the ghost just as we were about to reach our destination.

Synonyms

to die
vsto yield up the ghost
840 4.8

To stop being felt, as a feeling or idea

refers mainly to living things or items that stop after decline
to go dead
vsto yield up the ghost
27 3.9

To stop working or become suddenly silent

typically involves a gradual decline before final cessation
to go up in smoke
vsto yield up the ghost
  • Informal
18 5.5

Plans or hopes suddenly fail and disappear for good

describes living or working ending after long decline not sudden failure
to give up
vsto yield up the ghost
14 2.6

To stop working after being used for a long time

is used for ceasing after prolonged decline rather than simple wear
to pass away
vsto yield up the ghost
12 3.5

To slowly disappear or stop existing

is stronger and includes stopping after long decline
to bite the dust
vsto yield up the ghost
  • Informal
11 6.8

To stop working or fail completely

focuses on final end after a gradual decline rather than general failure
to give up the ghost
vsto yield up the ghost
  • Informal
4 8.1

To die or stop working after a long time of problems

is the formal or older phrasing for that end after decline
to snuff it
vsto yield up the ghost
  • Slang
2 9.9

To stop living and not come back

describes ending after a period of decline rather than sudden end
to return to dust
vsto yield up the ghost
  • Literature
1 8.3

To slowly fall apart and disappear over time

is broader meaning stop existing or stop functioning after decline

Antonyms

to live
∞ 1.0

To continue to be alive

to function
441 2.6

To work in a particular role or job

Surface Forms

yield up the ghost infinitive
yielded up the ghost past
yielded up the ghost past participle
yielding up the ghost present participle
yields up the ghost third person singular

Morphology

yield + up + the + ghost

The phrase is an idiomatic/archaic way to say 'to die' and its overall meaning is not directly derivable from the parts: 'yield' (give up) + 'up' + 'ghost' (spirit) do not transparently combine into the specific sense 'to die' for a B1 learner. Although 'ghost' evokes death and 'yield up' suggests giving something away, the conventionalized phrasing and historical usage make the meaning unpredictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

The idiom yield up the ghost comes from an old image: yield, meaning 'give', and the ghost, meaning 'soul', leaving the body. So saying someone yielded up the ghost was a way to say they 'died', and today the phrase is also used for things that 'stop working'.