give (someone) pause
idiom
: to cause (someone) to stop and think about something carefully or to have doubts about something
I was going to ask her for help, but the look on her face gave me pause.
Examples of give (someone) pause in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But in light of Kennedy’s evident distrust of established expertise and traditional scientific institutions in government decision-making, this could give pause.
—
Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
That could give pause to budget hawks who have long campaigned on reducing the national debt, potentially jeopardizing the fragile consensus that barely held together during the initial House vote.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Josh Giddey, Bulls, $34,768,411 (R) My formula spit out a fanciful number that would give pause to even the biggest Giddey fan.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 19 June 2025
The conviction and sentencing of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan should give pause to those in positions of trust who are tempted to misuse those positions for personal gain.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for give (someone) pause
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Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
That could give pause to budget hawks who have long campaigned on reducing the national debt, potentially jeopardizing the fragile consensus that barely held together during the initial House vote.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Josh Giddey, Bulls, $34,768,411 (R) My formula spit out a fanciful number that would give pause to even the biggest Giddey fan.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 19 June 2025
The conviction and sentencing of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan should give pause to those in positions of trust who are tempted to misuse those positions for personal gain.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for give (someone) pause
Cite this Entry
“Give (someone) pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give%20%28someone%29%20pause. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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