give me a break

That’s preposterous, you can’t expect me to believe that. This exasperated reply to a statement, usually made half-jokingly, dates from the second half of the 1900s. For example, “She’s planning a luncheon at the Ritz? Give me a break!” This expression is not the same as to give some- one a break, meaning to give someone an opportunity or special considera- tion, which dates from about 1900.