Modern Meaning
What Does “Give up the ghost” Mean?
To die; later, to cease functioning.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
The KJV uses "gave up the ghost" for death throughout both testaments — applied to Abraham, Isaac, Jesus, and others. The phrase equates death with the spirit departing the body. It gradually shifted to humorous use for anything that stops working.
The phrase appears in Genesis 25:8 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Now mostly used humorously for machines or objects that stop working. "My laptop finally gave up the ghost."
The KJV Verse
Genesis 25:8
“Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age.”
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