Give me a break

[0110] I've had it up to here

🎲 That's the last straw
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Expresses that one's patience has completely run out; they are extremely annoyed, frustrated, or fed up and can tolerate no more of a particular situation or behavior.
  • Often accompanied by a physical gesture: holding a flat hand horizontally level with the neck or forehead.

Origin

  • Evokes the imagery of rising water (or frustration, anger) reaching a critical high level (one's neck or head), indicating a limit has been breached.
  • Common since the mid-20th century.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • I've had enough
  • I can't take it anymore / I can't take any more
  • That's the last straw
  • I'm at my wit's end
  • I'm fed up
  • I've reached my limit
  • Enough is enough

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • I'm done / I'm so done
  • I'm over it
  • Fed up / Proper fed up (UK)
  • At the end of my rope / End of my tether (UK)

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • I've had enough of this shit
  • I'm fucking done with this
  • This is total bullshit

Milder:

  • I've reached my limit
  • I've had quite enough
  • This is very frustrating
  • My patience is wearing thin

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal to semi-formal. Conveys strong emotion.
  • Acceptable in personal contexts. Can be used in work settings to express extreme frustration about a situation, but it's emotionally charged and potentially risky if directed at people, especially superiors.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • The literal meaning is nonsensical. Must be understood idiomatically as reached my limit of tolerance. The accompanying hand gesture strongly reinforces the meaning.

Examples

  • I've had it up to here with your constant complaining! (Gesture: hand at neck level)
  • After the third time the computer crashed, I'd had it up to here.
  • The noise from the construction next door... I've had it up to here!

Dialogue

Manager: Why is this project still not finished?

Employee: Look, I've had it up to here! (Hand gesture at forehead) The requirements keep changing, I have no support, and the deadline is impossible!

Manager: Okay, okay, let's take a breath and talk about this calmly.

Social Media Examples

  • Facebook Post: Dealing with this airline's customer service I have HAD IT UP TO HERE! 🤬 Been on hold for 2 hours. (Maybe with an angry emoji or GIF).
  • Tweet: The constant negativity online lately... I've had it up to here. Taking a break.
  • Forum Rant: Okay community, I've had it up to here with the cheaters in this game. Devs need to act!

Response Patterns

  • Sympathy/Concern: Oh no, what's wrong?, That sounds really frustrating., Are you okay?
  • Agreement: Me too!, I know exactly what you mean.
  • Caution: Whoa, calm down., Take it easy.
  • Inquiry: What happened specifically?

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • The speaker is often at a breaking point and might follow up with decisive action (quitting, yelling, leaving, confronting someone).
  • They might vent further about the cause of their frustration.
  • Someone hearing this might ask What are you going to do? or try to de-escalate the situation.

Conversation Starter

  • No. Expresses a culmination of frustration, not an opening remark.

Intonation

  • Said with strong emphasis, frustration, anger, or exasperation.
  • Stress typically falls on HAD, UP, and HERE. I've HAD it UP to HERE!
  • The tone conveys finality and extreme irritation.

Generation Differences

  • Understood and used by most adult generations. The gesture is key.

Regional Variations

  • Common in all major English-speaking regions.
Give me a break
🎲 That's the last straw