give or take

Idioms  

1. Plus or minus a small amount, approximately, more or less. For example, We have ten acres of land, give or take a bit, or It should take a couple of hours, give or take. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

One thing you have done right: Your withholdings are quite accurate, give or take a few hundred dollars.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

For most investors, that would typically be between about 10% of their assets in gold, give or take about 5%, depending what else is in their portfolio.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

Tom Cruise champions have been waiting for this movie, oh, give or take 25 years.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

For the current fiscal first quarter, Applied Materials expects adjusted per-share earnings of $2.18, plus or minus 20 cents, and revenue of $6.85 billion, give or take $500 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

“About twenty hours, give or take, esteemed guest, depending on whether they choose the happy or sad ending.”

From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin