Give it a rest

USAGE SUMMARY

"Give it a rest" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want someone to stop talking about or doing something that is annoying or repetitive. Example: "You've been complaining about the same issue for hours; maybe it's time to give it a rest." Alternative expressions include "Take a break" and "Let it go."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Give it a rest now.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Give it a rest," an announcer intones in a promotion for the "Buy Nothing Day" campaign.

The New York Times

"Give it a rest," the woman in the decorative sweatshirt said.

The New Yorker

Give it a rest.' "I was on the phone all that week with my friends, too.

The New York Times - Sports

'Give it a rest... lose the bows and arrows and phony outfits.

The Guardian - Travel

Give it a rest A plain background colour – such as white, neutral, black or dark blue – also helps.

Independent

Give it a rest, guy.

Huffington Post

Give it a rest, posers.

Vice

Give it a rest for a while.

Huffington Post

Give it a rest and let the poor guys finish their season, hopefully a championship season.

Los Angeles Times

"Give it a rest".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Give it a rest" to express annoyance or frustration when someone is repeating something or engaging in a behavior you find irritating. It's suitable for informal settings.

Common error

While "Give it a rest" is a common idiom, avoid overusing it, especially in formal contexts. Constant repetition can make you sound overly aggressive or dismissive. Consider using alternative expressions depending on the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Give it a rest" primarily functions as an imperative, directly instructing someone to cease a particular action or behavior. Ludwig shows that it's often used to express annoyance or impatience with someone's repetitive or bothersome actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Give it a rest" is a common and grammatically correct imperative phrase used to tell someone to stop doing or saying something, often out of annoyance. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources. While generally informal, it can appear in neutral contexts, though more formal situations might call for alternatives. When using "Give it a rest", be mindful of your audience and context to avoid sounding overly aggressive. Remember to focus on your message of asking someone to stop.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Enough already

Expresses that something has reached its limit and needs to stop.

Cut it out

A more informal way to tell someone to stop, often used with children or in playful situations.

Knock it off

Similar to "cut it out", but can also imply mild irritation.

Stop it now

Directly commands someone to cease their current action, lacking the nuance of annoyance.

Drop it

Suggests ceasing a topic of conversation or line of inquiry.

Let it go

Implies releasing anger or resentment about something, or stopping an argument.

Hold your horses

An idiomatic way to tell someone to slow down or stop, often implying impatience.

Take a break

Suggests a temporary cessation of activity, more focused on rest than annoyance.

Desist

A formal command to stop doing something.

Cease and desist

A more formal and legalistic version of "stop", often used in official warnings.

FAQs

How can I use "Give it a rest" in a sentence?

"Give it a rest" is used to tell someone to stop doing or saying something annoying. For example: "You've been complaining about the same thing all day, "give it a rest"!"

What's a more polite way to say "Give it a rest"?

If you want to be more polite, you could say "Could you "drop it" please?" or "Enough already, let's talk about something else."

When is it appropriate to use "Give it a rest"?

It is appropriate in informal settings, with friends or family, when you're feeling irritated. It is less suitable for formal situations or when speaking to someone in authority.

Is "Give it a rest" the same as "Let it go"?

While both phrases imply stopping something, "Give it a rest" is more about stopping an annoying behavior or repetitive complaint, while "let it go" is about releasing anger or resentment.