ASK A QUESTION Give me a break!
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What would be the Spanish equivalent?
Give me a break meaning it is difficult to believe this is true or real
e.g.
This guy is going around saying he's from another planet and getting paid for it - I mean, give me a break!
You're going to run in tomorrow's marathon? Give me a break!
15 Answers
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This guy is going around saying he's
from another planet and getting paid for it - I mean, give me a break! ¡Venga ya!
Anda..anda....
pero bueno......
You're going to run in tomorrow's marathon? Give me a break!
¿pero tú estás loco o qué?
jeje
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The ones I'm used to:
¡Por favor!
¡Por favor, déjame en paz!
¡Por favor, déjame ya!
¡Por favor, déjame tranquilo!
¡Venga, ya está bien!
¡Déjalo ya! ¿No?
¡Ya está (bien)! ¿No?
¡Venga ya! ¡Para!
There are many other combinations, and some other more rude than others (not included in the list above).
- Apr 6, 2011
- | Edited by lazarus1907 Apr 6, 2011
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- Although a great answer, II don't think this is what Gocika was looking for... - chicasabrosa Apr 7, 2011 flag
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In Mexico, you might hear something like:
¡No mames, güey! or ¡No mamen
I have checked with a Mexican friend, and he says that it is a sentence you would only use among friends, but someone you don't know could take it as an insult. He also added that his mum would slap him really hard if he said that to her, so I would say it is not a good way to translate "Give me a break!"
- His mum raised him correctly - JulianChivi Apr 7, 2011 flag
- I couldn't help but laugh after reading this. - Gregory84 Feb 13, 2012 flag
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En Guatemala, dicimos ¡Púchicas!
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Maybe it's because I live in a fishing village where people are rather blunt with their language, but I don't know a polite way to say this.
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I have checked with a Mexican friend, and he says that it is a sentence you would only use among friends, but someone you don't know could take it as an insult. He also added that his mum would slap him really hard if he said that to her, so I would say it is not a good way to translate "Give me a break!"
Hehe...Well, in my opinion, that sounds pretty close to how I would describe the use of the expression "Give me a break!" (or more colloquially, "Gimme a break!").
The actual meaning of this expression, depending on factors such as tone and context, generally means something along the lines of:
►That'll be enough of your foolishness/bull!
►Alright already! I've heard enough of your bull/stories/lies/tall tales!
►Please stop with your foolishness/lies/bull
►Enough with the tomfoolery.
►That's utter nonsense/rubbish!
►I don't believe you!
►Come off it/Stop lying!
►You're full of it!
Of course there are several other expressions (not listed of course) which are a bit more vulgar but which could be reasonably interchangeable with the original.
In my own opinion, the phrase is innocuous enough. Then again, I also grew up in a fairly irreverent culture where shows such as the Simpsons and Family Guy are viewed by many as relatively harmless. That's not to say that this expression will be viewed so lightly by everyone, and it is certainly one which you are more likely to hear in a familiar atmosphere.
Personally, I would feel comfortable saying it to my friends, but I might be hesitant to say it to someone like my boss (if I didn't have a close relationship with him) or someone I just met who might take such an expression to heart and feel me to be questioning or undermining his integrity/character/sincerity/etc.
In any case, even though she is not the slapping type, it is certainly nothing I would ever dream of saying to my mother. And I might add that had my grandfather (who did happen to be the slapping type) ever heard me utter such an expression towards him—or, God forbid, towards my mother—I am quite confident that I could have counted on, at the very least, having had my ears cuffed.
- Agreed... people need to remember, you may make a joke or phrase to a friend, but wouldn't repeat it to your mother or grandma. It doesn't mean that phrase it bad, it's just a level of respect. You don't speak to your mother like your friends and... - DJ_Huero Apr 7, 2011 flag
- vise versa... duhh people. Come on, lets "give Iza a break". ;-P - DJ_Huero Apr 7, 2011 flag
- If you said "Give me a break" to your boss, he'll probably be a bit shocked and I'll probably have to apologize afterwards. If I said the Spanish version to a Spanish speaking boss, you'll be immediately fired. - lazarus1907 Apr 7, 2011 flag
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In Mexico, you might hear something like:
¡No mames, güey! or ¡No mamen!
Although, I think that this expression might be considered a bit coarse to some (and possibly vulgar to others).
- A bit? Hehehe. - lazarus1907 Apr 6, 2011 flag
- I like this slightly better than "No manches.":) - Deanski Apr 6, 2011 flag
- This isn't bad... maybe to old people, or people who think they're above common folk, but Iza is correct. I, as well as everyone I know, use "No mames güey" & "No manches güey". Very common... - DJ_Huero Apr 7, 2011 flag
- True - it is course and it is quite common, especially in places like Tepito - JulianChivi Apr 7, 2011 flag
- Thanks for the input DJ and JC. By the way "course" → "coarse" - Izanoni1 Apr 7, 2011 flag
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Izan, they would sound off in Spain because mamar means something completely different here. 
It can also be completly innocent, so I guess it is acceptable.
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Claro que "¡Qué tontería!" y "¡Qué barbaridad!" se aplican en este contexto. There are at least a couple more words I can replace tontería and barbaridad with, but they're too vulgar.
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A bit? Hehehe
Being a gringo, it's sometimes difficult for me to gauge the level of appropriateness of expressions and phrases. I have heard this expression from numerous sources including conversations, television programs, Youtube videos and radio programs. Based on context, I can tell that it is often accompanied by rather puerile conversations, but I am really not sure as to how rude an expression it really is.
Censorship being what it is these days, I am left with the impression that it is probably not outright vulgar if they allow it on radio and television. However, if I have missed the mark and such language does not seem appropriate for this forum, please let me know, and I will withdraw my answer.
- I can't tell how rude they are in Mexico. A Mexican colleague of mine uses them in Spanish, but he keeps his English rather formal, so I don't know. In Spain I wouldn't use them with someone you don't know well. - lazarus1907 Apr 6, 2011 flag
- Having said that, in Spain we also use a lot of words that many people regard as rude, but someone like my grandma would not be happy if she heard those words (and the ones you mentioned earlier). - lazarus1907 Apr 6, 2011 flag
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If you said "Give me a break" to your boss, he'll probably be a bit shocked and I'll probably have to apologize afterwards. If I said the Spanish version to a Spanish speaking boss, you'll be immediately fired.
I don't know. I suppose that it probably depends on the personality of your boss. Having worked in various industries (including both blue collar and white collar jobs), I have seen the full gamut, from bosses who might take such comments, even in private, as insubordination and grounds for termination or other disciplinary action to bosses who would not even blink twice while allowing employees to publicly berate, belittle and even curse at them. Most of the latter variety either had a fairly good sense of humor and ran a sort of 'boys club' type operation or were extremely weak willed and allowed their employees to walk all over them. On the other hand, the types who would typically take offense at such statements and who might very well fire you for such a remark tended to be those who were either very domineering and company minded or those who tended to be hot-headed and who would not appreciate/tolerate being 'shown up', publicly.
In any case, based on what you have said, it seems to me that in many cases "no mames, güey" might be a tad bit harsher than "Gimme a break!" and might be more along the lines of "You're full of it!" or "Don't give me that bull!" or one of their more vulgar variants (i.e. insert preferred vulgarity into italicized word).
At any rate, I certainly wouldn't use either expression with my grandmother (or anyone else's, for that matter).
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I think there are various nuances to "give me a break" even in English, depending on to what you are responding or the situation that prompted the remark.
It could mean any of these or more situations:
"I don't believe you."
"Stop kidding me. Give me some slack."
"I am tired and want a rest."
Because these situations vary, so will (probably) the appropriate frase or modismo in Spanish.
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