Definition
English idiom – “catch a break” 🤞🏻
This idiom is mainly used in the USA and means to have some good luck.
It is quite common to use this idiom in the negative form to complain about having bad luck.
For example – “First my car broke down, and now my phone isn’t working. I seriously can’t catch a break!”
Clip 1
The Big Bang Theory – Season 3 Episode 1 (2009)
Leonard and Penny are finally about to share a romantic moment, with a kiss between them after months apart. However, just as they begin to kiss, Howard bursts in to inform Leonard that their friend Sheldon has run away. This interruption leads Leonard to exclaim, “Man, I cannot catch a break.”
Leonard uses the phrase “I cannot catch a break” to express his frustration over the series of unfortunate interruptions he’s facing. After finally having a moment of intimacy with Penny, the sudden disruption by Howard ruins the moment. Leonard’s use of the phrase highlights how he feels like he can’t get a moment of peace or good luck, as everything seems to keep going wrong, especially when he’s just about to have a positive experience.
Clip 2
Friends – Season 5 Episode 2 (1998)
In “The One with All the Kissing” (Season 5, Episode 2), Ross is devastated after his disastrous wedding to Emily, where he accidentally said Rachel’s name at the altar. Emily refuses to speak to him, and when Ross sends her a package of roses to apologise, she returns them, chopped into pieces. Feeling hopeless, Ross tells Rachel he’s going to take a sad walk in the rain. When Rachel points out that it’s not actually raining, Ross exclaims, “I can’t catch a break.”
Ross uses the phrase “I can’t catch a break” to express his frustration. No matter how hard he tries to make things right with Emily, nothing is going in his favour. His attempts to fix the situation are met with rejection, and even something as simple as taking a walk in the rain doesn’t go as planned. The line conveys Ross’ deep frustration, but it also provides humour to the audience, as his unfortunate situation is made even more absurd by the lack of rain.
Clip 3
The Pardon – (2013)
In “The Pardon” (2013), Toni Jo Henry (played by Jaime King) is with her lawyers when they receive a letter from her accomplice, Burks, who confesses to being the sole person responsible for the murder Toni Jo was convicted of. This new information could lead to a chance for her freedom. After so many hardships, Toni Jo, in a moment of disbelief and relief, says, “It’s about time I caught a break.”
Toni Jo uses the phrase “It’s about time I caught a break” to express her frustration with all the bad luck she’s faced in life. After years of suffering from her childhood, her conviction, and possible death sentence, the letter from Burks is the first sign of good fortune. Her exclamation shows her relief that, after so long, something is finally going her way.
Clip 4
The Hive – (2023)
In “The Hive” (2023), Penny and Albie are driving home when they get a flat tire. This causes an argument between them, highlighting the tension in their relationship. The flat tire is just another setback in a series of misfortunes.
When Penny says, “We can’t catch a break, can we?”, she’s expressing frustration over the ongoing bad luck they keep facing. The flat tire is just the latest in a series of problems, and Penny feels like they can’t get a moment of relief from either their relationship issues or their situation.