give it a rest

INFORMAL
This page is about the conversational phrase give it a rest

Meaning

You can use this to firmly tell someone to stop doing something that's annoying or disturbing you.

For example

  • After my flatmate had been playing the drums for an hour, I said, "Give it a rest, mate. I'm trying to study."

  • Our teenage son kept telling us what was wrong with the world, so I said, "Give it a rest, Pete. It's not all bad."

Quick Quiz

Jiang said, "Give it a rest, Lian!" He wouldn't stop

a. breathing

b. going to sleep

c. checking his phone
a) breathing b) going to sleep c) checking his phone

Contributor: Matt Errey