give someone a break

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

give someone a break (third-person singular simple present gives someone a break, present participle giving someone a break, simple past gave someone a break, past participle given someone a break)

1. (idiomatic) To allow someone a rest.
2. (idiomatic) To stop harassing or demanding from someone.
   • 2003, Alecia Alexander, Everybody's a Critic, page 105:

     “Oh, give me a break, sport. You want to pick my brain but you're not going ^[sic] give me anything in return? What's up with that?”

3. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) (idiomatic) To provide someone with an opportunity for significant advancement.
4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see give,‎ a,‎ break.

Further reading

• “give someone a break”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “give someone a break”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.
• “give somebody a break” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.