an even break

even break

An equal opportunity; fair treatment. Primarily heard in US. I know I'm not the CEO's niece or daughter, but this is my dream job, and I am more than qualified for it. Can I please just get an even break?
See also: break, even
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*an even break

a fair chance; a fair judgment. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) Please give me an even break! I need some help here!
See also: break, even
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

an even break

a fair chance. informal
This phrase is perhaps best known from W. C. Fields's catchphrase ‘Never give a sucker an even break’. It is said to have originated in the 1923 musical Poppy, and was also the title of one of Field's films ( 1941 ).
See also: break, even
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • even break
  • get an even break
  • give (one) an even break
  • give someone an even break
  • chip
  • chips
  • it's not what you know but who you know
  • doors open up
  • (as) dead as mutton
  • dead as mutton
References in periodicals archive
I WAS interested to read Robert Sutcliffe's column 'Why you can't give a women an even break at snooker' (Examiner, May 10).
Ladies and snooker; FEEDBACK
"We have paid together 51 years of tax, all we are asking for is an even break."
Mum of two disabled boys tells of despair; MEDICAL CARD CASE STUDIES mum yesterday
2).The sample should fail with an even break through the wet layer, just below the top edge of the sample tube.
Wet tensile test provides Early Warning: AFS technical department, schaumbrg, illinois
via email They have a quaint old saying over there, "Never give a sucker an even break".
Who are financiers? You Say Email:letters@liverpoolecho.co.uk
Which American actor starred in the comedy Never Give a Sucker An Even Break? 2.
QUIZ OF THE DAY
"When I think of those two I am always reminded of the famous line from WC Fields, 'Never give a sucker an even break'.
Walsh 'exploits young'
If ever a guy deserved an even break after the two years he's had, it's him.
Gordon Waddell: Soti's new Ball game
Aleksandr Mostovoi, one of only three in the squad who play abroad, is appealing for the law to give him an even break during Euro 2004.
Russian in to have a moan
The whole point of an NHS is to give patients an even break.
Becks care for Kirsty
I've got to get a laugh out of this picture somewhere even if it's down in India." Fields' humor was evidently lost on Breen, who became even more picky when dealing with Fields' 1941 movie Never Give a Sucker an Even Break. Breen was determined not to let Fields get away with anything this time and his memo to the studio is quite explicit and peremptory: "Any and all dialogue and showing of bananas and pineapples is unacceptable."
Fields of Glory
You can show your disgust at soccer's money-grabbers by wearing one of our FREE lapel badges, pictured above, calling on the clubs, TV - with their pay-per-view schemes - and bookies to give the fan an even break.
LET'S BADGER GREEDY GUYS
And if fortune had cut her an even break, she would have broken the biggest monopoly in SW19 since the All England Club decided they could get away with charging pounds 4 for a pint.
BORE ON THE 4TH OF JULY (AGAIN); WIMBLEDON: THE 123RD CHAMPIONSHIPS LEGEND CLOSES IN ON 20TH GRAND SLAM FINAL
TONY BULLOCK is looking for an even break from now until the end of the season in a bid to secure his future with Dundee United.
Football: Bullock: I'm back
But the boss doesn't rely on fate giving Killie an even break. He said: "We've played Celtic three times in the SPL this season and lost narrowly but I don't believe in the law of averages winning matches.
FOOTBALL: Bobby's just a romantic
EAST Stirling finally got an even break yesterday when pools giants Littlewoods awarded them a six figure sum.
IAIN CAMPBELL: EAST Stirling