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. 1,2,3
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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. 4
More Idioms Starting with G
- Get Out of My Hair
- Go Over the Same Old Ground
- Get With It
- Get With the Program
- Going to (Will) Murder (Kill) Someone
More Break Idioms
- If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It
- All Hell Breaks Loose
- Glass Ceiling
- Break the Fourth Wall
- Give Someone a Break
More Give Idioms
- Give Someone the Cold Shoulder
- Give Me a Second/Minute
- Give Me Some Sugar
- Give Someone a Break
- Give Your Right Arm (for something)
More Me Idioms
References- Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
- Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.
- McCarthy, Michael. Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms. Cambridge University Press, 2002
- Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.