Meaning of Idiom ‘Give Me A Break’
Give me a break is a statement of exasperation used when you do not believe what someone tells you, or you disagree with it and find it ridiculous, unfair, or upsetting. 1Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,2Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.,3McCarthy, Michael. Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms. Cambridge University Press, 2002
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Usage
This American and Australian idiom is usually slightly humorous, showing mock exasperation.
Examples Of Use
“Ellenor is the new manager? Give me a break! She’ll be impossible to deal with!”
“They postponed my dental appointment again–give me a break! What’s going on in that office?”
“Did you hear that Stacey was planning to compete in Ninja Warrior? Give me a break. He’s about as athletic as my 90-year-old grandmother.”
There are people making thousands of dollars showing their cat on YouTube. Give me a break.
Origin
This idiom began as slang during the early 1900s. 4Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
More Idioms Starting with G
More Break Idioms
More Give Idioms
- Give Someone a Break
- Give Your Right Arm (for something)
- Give Your Eye Teeth (for something)
- Flip Someone Off
- Give Someone the Benefit of a Doubt
More Me Idioms
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Sources
| 1, 4. | ↲ | Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. |
| 2. | ↲ | Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010. |
| 3. | ↲ | McCarthy, Michael. Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms. Cambridge University Press, 2002 |