collocation · informal
give someone space
/ɡɪv ˈsʌmwʌn speɪs/give SOME·one SPACE
to allow someone time alone and not pressure or crowd them
Examples
“After the argument, I decided to give her some space.”
“Sometimes people just need you to give them space.”
“If your friend is upset, it's often best to give them space rather than force a conversation.”
Band 8 sentence
“When tensions rise in a relationship, it's often healthier to give each other space before trying to resolve the issue.”
Collocations
- give someone some space
- need some space
Word family
Common mistakes
give space to someone→give someone space / give space to someone (less common)
give someone a space→give someone space
Say it for a higher band
5leave someone alone→6give someone time→7+give someone space
Synonyms
leave someone alone
respect someone's privacy
Easily confused
give someone time
“She asked him to give her space for a few days.”
Related words
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In Family & Relationships
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