give chase

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

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To begin chasing or pursuing someone or something, whether on foot or by vehicle.

   Synonym: give pursuit

   After the robbery, the police gave chase but didn't catch the suspect.

   • 2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:

     Without thinking, Zoe ran along the outside of the building, as her stepmother and Tina fought to be first out on to the scaffold to give chase.

   • 2022 June 21, Don Babwin, “Chicago police unveil long-awaited foot pursuit policy”, in The Associated Press‎:

     Under the policy, officers may give chase if they believe a person is committing or is about to commit a felony, a Class A misdemeanor such as domestic battery, or a serious traffic offense that could risk injuring others, such as drunken driving or street racing.

   • 2022 September 30, “Two Drivers Clock Speeds of 150 mph in Georgia Car Chase”, in Yahoo! News‎:

     The footage, which was captured at approximately 10:30 pm on September 24, shows two vehicles speeding past the patrol car on Highway 400, prompting the sheriff’s deputy to give chase.

   • 2023 January 17, Harry Parker, Rocco Parascandola, Thomas Tracy, “Wounded NYPD cop gave chase to Bronx teen accused of shooting him”, in New York Daily News‎:

     An NYPD officer struck in the arm by a bullet allegedly fired by a teen gunman ignored his wound and gave chase to the 16-year-old suspect, cops said Tuesday.