give someone something to think about

verb

To threaten or provide a challenge to.

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Meanings

verbgive someone something to think about (third-person singular simple present gives someone something to think about, present participle giving someone something to think about, simple past gave someone something to think about, past participle given someone something to think about)

present singular third person gives someone something to think about · participle present giving someone something to think about · past gave someone something to think about · participle past given someone something to think about

  1. idiomaticTo threaten or provide a challenge to.

    Arsenal were untroubled elsewhere, Forest's risk-averse gameplan making it a relatively easy night for their defenders until Awoniyi emerged after being out with injury since October, finally giving them something to think about.

    2024 January 30, Phil McNulty, “Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal: Gunners in title race after they close gap to leaders Liverpool”, in BBC Sport
Cite this entry
APA

give someone something to think about. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20something%20to%20think%20about

MLA

“give someone something to think about.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20something%20to%20think%20about. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “give someone something to think about,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20something%20to%20think%20about.

Source: give someone something to think about on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.