(PW) give someone an opportunity or chance
The actor struggled for many years. Finally, someone gave him a break and put him in a movie.
(dictionary)
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 ." 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]
(idiomquest) To relax the rules on someone in a difficult situation.
() Give (someone) a break
To give someone a break means to give someone a chance or an opportunity to prove himself. This meaning is the same as to “get a break.” It is also often used when a person has had bad luck for a long time. Usually, someone has been trying to do something specific and has had no luck at it. Finally, someone decides to give him a break and help him out.
To give someone a break can also mean to give him a break or a rest from what you or someone else is doing to him. If a boss is constantly giving an employee more and more work to do, he could give him a break from that. If a wife is constantly nagging her husband to do something, she can give him a break from that. You could tell someone that you will give them a break.
However, this is usually used to tell someone to give someone else a break or to give you a break. You can say, “I will give you a break and not make you come in to work this weekend.” You could say, “Give him a break. You already made him work five weekends in a row.” Or, you could say, “Give me a break. I can’t do any more.”
This could also be used to mean to give someone a second chance. If someone makes a big mistake where there are harsh consequences, you could give him a break and let him try again before you punish him.
Ralph: I’m afraid we’ll have to let Ed go.
Stan: Why? What happened?
Ralph: He didn’t have his presentation ready on time so our clients took their business elsewhere.
Stan: Give him a break Ralph. This is only his first job.
Ralph: Well, okay. I guess he does deserve a second chance.
The phrase, “Give me a break,” can also be used as slang, if said in a sarcastic or exasperated voice. It still means, “stop doing this to me” but in a more sarcastic way. It implies that the other person is lying to you, trying to trick you. In this case it means, “I know you’re lying
to me or trying to trick me so just stop it.”
It could also be used when someone is telling you something you don’t want to hear so you want him to stop it. In this case it means, “Just stop already. I don’t want to hear any more.” If someone is bothering you or irritating you by doing something over and over, it can also be used to mean, “Stop bothering me and go away.” When used as slang, it is often said as, “Gimme a break”or “Oh, gimme a break.”
In slang, it can be something like, “Moo iya da!” or “Kanben shite kure yo!”
