Give me a break!
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.
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?
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!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Give me a break!
and Gimme a break!1. Inf. Don't be so harsh to me!; Give me another chance! I'm sorry! I'll do better! Give me a break! I was only late once! Give me a break!
2. Inf. That is enough, you're bothering me!; Stop it! Do you have to go on and on? Give me a break! Give me a break, you guys! That's enough of your bickering!
3. Inf. I don't believe you!; You don't expect anyone to believe that! You say a gorilla is loose in the city? Gimme a break! Tom said he was late again because the back stairs caved in. His boss said, "Gimme a break!"
See also: give
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
give me a break!
used to express contemptuous disagreement or disbelief about something that has been said.See also: give
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
give me a ˈbreak!
(spoken) used when somebody wants somebody else to stop doing or saying something that is annoying, or to stop saying something that is not true: I didn’t mean it like that, so give me a break!See also: give
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
Give me a break!
and Gimme a break!1. exclam. That is enough!; Stop it! Do you have to go on and on? Give me a break!
2. exclam. Don’t be so harsh!; Give me a chance! I’m sorry! I’ll do better! Give me a break!
3. and GMAB exclam. & comp. abb. I don’t believe it!; You don’t really think I believe that! Come on, GMAB! How dumb do you think I am!
See also: give
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.