無論我們生活中的好友是多么的親密無間，可是有時候就因一件小事，一句不慎出口之言，一句笑話就會變得關系冷淡，甚至是斷絕來往。那么，我今天要拋出的招就跟這個有關。

我們還是先來聽2例子：

A：I thought you were dating Sally these days.

我以為這些天你還在和Sally約會。

B : No. She gave me the air.

沒有的事，她已經把我甩了。

We had been the closest of friends for many years when suddenly he gave men the air.

我們多年來一直是親密的好朋友，而他突然間跟我斷交了。

接招：在上面的2個例子中都用到了同一個詞語：give sb the air。字面意思是給某人空氣。那么，它究竟是什么意思呢？它的意思是：Break off relations with someone, oust someone, snub or jilt someone, especially a lover. 意思是與某人關系破裂，把某人撤職，冷落不理睬某人，遺棄拋棄某人。

其實，我們中文也有這樣的說法，我經常對我的學生說：“你們不要讓我把你們當做空氣。”這句話是我用來警戒學生在舞蹈上要刻苦發奮練習，不要讓我失望。如果你們讓我失望，那么我作為老師也會讓你們失望。就是把你們當做“空氣”，不再理睬你們，你們想怎么著就怎么著，將來是你們的。

下面我們再來看一些例子來熟悉這個習語和運用這個習語。

1. John was really upset when Mary gave him the air.

Mary把John被甩了后，John真是郁悶不已。

2. If you were to take up professional dancing, I might have to give you the air.

如果你要從事職業性跳舞的話，我以后也許得同你斷絕關系。

3. Frank's father gave him the air when he was caught taking drugs.

Frank被發現吸毒后,他的父親便聲明跟他斷絕了父子關系。

4. Mr.George gave his daughter the air when she married against his wishes.

他的女兒違背父意結婚以后，喬治先生就和她斷絕了關系。