The meaning of "give much for"

It means "value highly". "Give much for" directly means "pay a lot for".

I think it's misleading to think of monetary value. The phrase should be more general in meaning.

"Value highly" or "rate highly" is better, imho.

"I wouldn't give much for your chances"....i.e. You have little hope of success.

I agree with McT here--the meaning of the phrase every time i've encountered it was not about money, it was a figurative meaning, that one would not rate something very highly, or consider it very probable. I would also note that i don't believe i've ever seen it in any but a negative context.

"I wouldn't give much for his chance of winning" means i don't think it's very probable that he will win.

(Edited)

I think that Engineer made that distinction, in les, ummm fewer words, McTag.

Decidedly careless.

You just can't pass up a chance to try to correct people, even when no correction is necessary.
You are a silly billy.

I was referring to this sentence of Engineer's:

It could be misleading to a learner if a literal meaning is suggested, I thought.
Okay?

In this particular context, yes, Engineer could have stated specifically that the idea didn't entail a monetary element, though that meaning is certainly available for other situations.

I wouldn't give much for that old jalopie.

But mostly my response was intended as a joke, McTag. You didn't get it?

Not much of a joke. Setanta and McT have it right.

I am aware of the stereotype opinion that irony is not common in the US.

And, I am conditioned to the viperish reply from your direction.

But okay, my bad.

My book has not arrived yet. And I've nearly finished colouring in the one I've got.

Engineer wrote: It means "value highly". "Give much for" directly means "pay a lot for".

E's first sentence describes the meaning in this specific instance. His second sentence describes the literal meaning that this collocation has in other circumstances.

Yes, McTag and Setanta were also accurate in their descriptions but that doesn't mean E wasn't.

EDIT: I take some of that back.

"the meaning of the phrase every time i've encountered it was not about money,"

This is nonsense. It hardly has just a figurative meaning.

Please note, crossed posts. Pleasantries from me are worth looking for.

I don't mince words.



I've noted that you tend towards the fair, McTag.

I don't agree. It obviously has a literal meaning, but in my experience it is almost never meant literally.
In common, one might say, with many other stock phrases.

Thank you for the defense and I got the joke.