give someone a break
Ease up on
To give someone a break is to ease up on them—to stop criticizing, pressuring, or being harsh: Give me a break, I'm doing my best.
It can also mean offering someone an opportunity or advantage they might not otherwise get: The director gave her a break by casting her in the lead.
The imperative give me a break often expresses exasperation or disbelief: You expect me to believe that? Give me a break.
Short pause from hardship
- breatherBrief period of rest
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- restCessation of activity
- recessPause in activity
time-out · downtime · relief · intermission · hiatus · relaxation · reprieve · lull
Compassion toward offenders
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
understanding · clemency · grace · kindness · sympathy · empathy · patience · indulgence
respite
Short pause from hardship
recess · time-out · downtime · relief · intermission · hiatus · relaxation · reprieve · lull · interlude
mercy
Compassion toward offenders
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- compassionConcern for others' distress
tolerance · understanding · clemency · grace · kindness · sympathy · empathy · patience · indulgence · slack
chance
Likelihood of occurrence
- shotQuick liquor serving
- openingGap or start
- opportunityFavorable circumstance for advancement
turn · prospect · possibility · occasion · moment · window · luck · tryout · audition · debut
give someone a breakthrow the book at
Impose maximum legal punishment
hold accountable · crack down on · hold to account · hold someone's feet to the fire · nail someone to the wall
give someone a breakpile on
Add excessively to
stress out · overwork · run ragged · push hard · wear down
give someone a breakcall out
Publicly confront or summon
call someone's bluff · see through · challenge · question · doubt
gives, given, giving, giver, givers, someone, break, breaks, breaking