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
Those who have spoken about the human cost of exploitative technology should, in theory, give pause to AI propagators using their likeness.
—
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025
But the payday also seems to give pause to any conjecture that the company's board was on ice with its CEO because of his foray into politics, Reuters reported, as sales continue to fall at the company.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for give (someone) pause
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Jake Kanter, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025
But the payday also seems to give pause to any conjecture that the company's board was on ice with its CEO because of his foray into politics, Reuters reported, as sales continue to fall at the company.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
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
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 20 Aug. 2025.
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