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se donner

to give oneself; to set oneself an objective; to arrange to meet (in expressions like se donner rendez-vous)

→ se
phrase Uncommon #20,279
to give oneself; to set oneself an objective; to arrange to meet (in expressions like se donner rendez-vous) This reflexive verb is very context-dependent. It can mean literally "to give oneself," but more often it appears in set expressions such as se donner les moyens de faire quelque chose (to give yourself the means to do something) and se donner rendez-vous (to arrange to meet).
FR: Il est important de se donner tous les moyens de réussir dans la vie.
EN: It is important to give yourself every chance to succeed in life.

Ils finiront par se donner rendez-vous.

They’ll eventually arrange to meet.

— Assurance sur la mort (1944)

Pourquoi se donner tant de peine ?

Why go to so much trouble?

Tom et Marie décidèrent de se donner une seconde chance.

Tom and Marie decided to give themselves a second chance.

Je pense que cette fille a coupé ses cheveux pour se donner un nouveau look.

I think this girl cut her hair to give herself a new look.

Il faut se donner à fond.

You have to give it your all.

Il était satisfait de se donner tous les moyens de réussir dans la vie.

He was satisfied to give himself every means to succeed in life.

Pour se donner à fond au travail, il faut un foyer.

To give your all at work, you need a home.

— Le Vent se lève (2013)