give/grant somebody a reprieve• Civilization, which seemed at an end only two weeks ago, has been given a reprieve.• Londonzoo gets reprieve CLOSURE-threatened London Zoo has been given a last-minute reprieve because so many people want to visit it.• Buspass reprieve: Langbaurgh pensioners' free bus passes have been given a reprieve until the end of April.• You've been given a reprieve.• He remembered how innocently they had discussed which natives they would blow to smithereens and which they would grant a reprieve to.
reprieve2 verb [transitiveT]
1.to officially stop a prisoner from being killed as a punishment 撤销…的死刑;缓期执行…的死刑
2.to change a decision to close a factory, school etc or get rid of something 取消关闭〔工厂、学校等〕;暂缓终止