give the mitten to

English

Verb

give the mitten to (third-person singular simple present gives the mitten to, present participle giving the mitten to, simple past gave the mitten to, past participle given the mitten to)

1. (colloquial, dated) To dismiss as a lover; to break up with.
   • 1850, George W. Bungay, The Poor Printer:

     " […] There is an accomplished and pretty young lady boarding here who gave the mitten to Mr. Fitzgammon, but she would be delighted to have Mr. Raymond accept her hand, her heart, and her fortune."

   • 1862, Aunt Fanny, The Wife's Stratagem:

     advising me to give the mitten to my last beau and keep company with Seth Lee

Synonyms

• give someone the mitten

References

• “mitten”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.