Give me a break…

Do you think seasoned politicians will pass the Lokpal bill? Give me a break!

“You think listening to an old man on a CD will improve your English speaking? Give me a break”, he said.

Give me a break – this is a fairly common conversational phrase, mostly exclamatory. It denotes a feeling of disbelief and surprise. Its like saying, “This is so absurd, how can you even expect me to believe this”.

Let’s take some examples:

1. So you think this school master turned power broker will help you simply because he is from your own caste? Give me a break. Can’t you see, all he is worried about is his brothers, sons, daughters-in-law and other relatives getting plum positions in the government and a chance to plunder the government coffers.
2. Hmmmm. So, Pakistan has all of a sudden become a peace loving nation sending white pigeons and doves into India? Give me break. We saw what that peace loving country did to us on 26/11.
3. So you expect the politicians who benefit the most from weak anti-corruption laws to actually go ahead and pass the Lokpal bill. Give me a break. This is never going to happen till they are forced to do so.

It is an informal expression used to express sharp exclamation.

Let’s take some more examples:

1. This car will carry six of us to Goa? Give me a break. Can’t you see its condition?
2. This is the room you booked for us? Give me a break. The roof is leaking, the bed is stinking and there are coffee stains on the table cloth. Couldn’t you get something cleaner?
3. “Sanjeev is going to join the army?”, said Sudhir, his eyes open wide in disbelief, “Give me a break. He is a scholar, he likes reading books. I don’t think he can be a soldier”
4. “Shobhit is going to be the captain of the college team?”, he said, “Give me a break. He is the junior most member of the team”