something has (got) to give
idiom
—used to say that someone or something has to stop trying to resist or oppose something
For the strike to be settled, something has (got) to give!
Examples of something has (got) to give in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No, that fate is reserved for another of Liza’s acquaintances (something has to give her a conscience).
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Sep. 2023
The Patriots haven’t been inclined to score a lot of points (18.5 per game, 23rd in the league) and their defense is much better than the numbers suggest (24.5 per game, 22nd in the league), so something has to give against a Lions team that keeps the scoreboard operators busy on both sides.
—Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Both also score more than 41 points a game, so something has to give.
—USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2022
My youngest loves Disney movies and my eldest is obsessed with Stranger Things, but something has got to give.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2022
Soaring prices for all sorts of items from gas at the pump to airline tickets to food chip away at your spending power — and something has to give somewhere.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 8 July 2022
When that goes on indefinitely, something has to give: The higher-wage work gets neglected or the higher-wage earners get burned out trying to cover two jobs.
—Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2022
Increasing autocracy is colliding with a dynamic economy, and something has to give.
—Stephen Roach, Foreign Affairs, 28 Nov. 2022
Clearly, something has to give if the power maximum isn't changing, and that comes in the form of a massive new chassis, now requiring three full PCI-e slots of space in your preferred gaming case, along with additional length.
—Sam MacHkovech, Ars Technica, 5 Oct. 2022
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Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Sep. 2023
The Patriots haven’t been inclined to score a lot of points (18.5 per game, 23rd in the league) and their defense is much better than the numbers suggest (24.5 per game, 22nd in the league), so something has to give against a Lions team that keeps the scoreboard operators busy on both sides.
—Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Both also score more than 41 points a game, so something has to give.
—USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2022
My youngest loves Disney movies and my eldest is obsessed with Stranger Things, but something has got to give.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2022
Soaring prices for all sorts of items from gas at the pump to airline tickets to food chip away at your spending power — and something has to give somewhere.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 8 July 2022
When that goes on indefinitely, something has to give: The higher-wage work gets neglected or the higher-wage earners get burned out trying to cover two jobs.
—Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2022
Increasing autocracy is colliding with a dynamic economy, and something has to give.
—Stephen Roach, Foreign Affairs, 28 Nov. 2022
Clearly, something has to give if the power maximum isn't changing, and that comes in the form of a massive new chassis, now requiring three full PCI-e slots of space in your preferred gaming case, along with additional length.
—Sam MacHkovech, Ars Technica, 5 Oct. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'something has (got) to give.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near something has (got) to give
Cite this Entry
“Something has (got) to give.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/something%20has%20%28got%29%20to%20give. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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