break off v. phr. to freely or gratuitously give something (to someone), especially money or something highly prized; in the form break (someone) off a piece, to give or receive sexual favors. Editorial Note: Usually constructed as a transitive with an indirect object, “break someone off something,” although there exists also the form “break me off” with an unspoken but understood direct object. Occasionally, it is followed by the preposition “with”, perhaps by parallel construction to “hook me up with” ‘to grant me access to (something); to get for me (something difficult to acquire)’. Etymological Note: Perhaps originating from or reinforced by advertising for the Kit-Kat chocolate candy, which for many years used as a marketing jingle “Break me off a piece of that Kit-Kat bar.” (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
While reading Great Expectations (Bookshop|Amazon) by Charles Dickens, a listener in Arlington, Texas, is surprised when one of the characters inherits some money, which Dickens describes as a cool four thousand. Were they really using cool that way...
Understanding the varieties of conversational styles can mean the difference between feeling you’re understood and being insulted. “High-involvement” speakers interrupt or talk along with someone else to signal their enthusiasm...