What it means
Means going full tilt and putting everything you’ve got into it, whether it’s hammering a job, ripping down a run, or turning a quiet night into a proper send. Often said with a grin, like you know you’re being a bit reckless but you’re committed now. If someone tells you to givin' 'er, they want maximum effort, no excuses.
Usage examples
"Buddy showed up in his toque, waxed the skis, and we were givin' 'er all afternoon, straight-lining pow like we owned the hill."
"He was givin' er all weekend, didn't stop once."
"We were down a goal, so the whole team started givin' er."
"Truck was buried to the axles and instead of calling it, Dale just yelled givin' 'er and floored the damn thing."
"The band hit the last chorus and the whole bar was givin' 'er, beers up, voices blown, no tomorrow in sight."
Where it comes from
This one’s a clipped Canadian form of giving her, heard especially in blue-collar talk, motorsport, hockey, and outdoorsy banter. The her doesn’t point to an actual person most of the time. It works more like a built-in intensifier, so givin' 'er means you’re pouring it on hard and not holding anything back.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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