give (one) a break
1. To make a concession or allowance for one. I just need someone at this company to give me a break. I'll take any job here, even cleaning the bathrooms. I'm sure all the aspiring actors out there would like to know if someone gave you a break when you were starting out in Hollywood. It wouldn't be fair to give you a break on the deadline and not make that available your classmates.
2. A plea for someone else to stop doing something annoying or troublesome. Guys, I told you I needed you to be quiet for five minutes while I made a call, and you couldn't even do it for 10 seconds! Give me a break, will you? Give me a break, OK? I have to finish up this report and don't have time to help you right now. Kids, would you please stop fighting and give me a break for five minutes?
3. A scoffing retort to something that seems unbelievable or ridiculous. You, the night owl, are getting up at 5 AM tomorrow? Give me a break! A: "Ouch, ouch ouch!" B: "Oh, give me a break. I barely scratched you!" Wait, they're promoting that moron to head of Human Resources? Give me a break!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
give someone a break
1. Give someone a chance or special consideration. For example,
She begged the professor for an extension on her term paper, saying "
Please give me a break." [c. 1900] Also see
get a break.
2. give me a break. Stop trying to fool or upset or bother me. For example, Don't tell me the party's been postponed again-give me a break! This interjection is usually uttered with semihumorous exasperation. [Slang; late 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.