dar
Dar means 'to give' — but it powers dozens of expressions where English uses completely different verbs.
dar (give)
Physical and abstract giving — standard use.
Dame un momento.
Give me a moment.
Direct request. The imperative dame is extremely common.
Le dio las gracias.
She thanked him.
Dar las gracias = to thank. Not a giving of thanks — just the phrase for it.
Dar un paseo / una vuelta.
To go for a walk / a stroll.
Dar + noun creates action phrases. You're not giving a walk — you're taking one.
dar (expressions)
Dar powers fear, opinions, feelings, and reactions — where English uses completely different verbs.
Me da miedo.
It scares me / I'm scared of it.
Dar miedo = to scare. The fear comes to you — reverse structure like gustar.
Me da igual.
It's all the same to me. / I don't mind.
One of the most useful phrases in Spanish. Dar igual = to not matter, to be indifferent.
Me da vergüenza.
I'm embarrassed / It embarrasses me.
Shame/embarrassment arrives at you via dar. 'Estoy avergonzado' also works but dar vergüenza is more common.
Tricky bit
The dar expressions all follow the gustar structure — the thing causing the reaction is the subject: 'las alturas me dan miedo' (heights scare me). Learners say 'yo doy miedo a las alturas' — backwards. Also: 'dar con' = to find/come across: '¡Di con la solución!' = I hit on the solution.