catch a break
Finally find relief
Catch a break means to experience some good luck or relief, especially after a period of difficulty or misfortune.
The phrase nearly always appears in negative constructions: I can't catch a break or Give me a break—meaning stop being so hard on me.
When someone finally catches a break, circumstances have shifted in their favor, often unexpectedly.
The expression suggests that good fortune is something elusive that must be seized when it appears.
- opportunityFavorable circumstance for advancement
- respiteShort pause from hardship
- luckChance affecting outcomes
- windfallUnanticipated lucky gain
- successFavorable outcome attained
reprieve · chance · advantage · serendipity · breakthrough · providence · fortune · overdue · relief · blessing · struggle · rough patch · hard luck · hardship · setback · obstacle · difficulty · breather