Idioms with word break

Will the winter break affect clubs in the EFL and National League?

Ben Wood of Marsden RBL B and Richard O’Connor of Almondbury WMC B both had a 25, Gary Doughty of Crosland Moor Con A made a 28, two breaks of 28 were also recorded by John Shaw of Marsden RBL A.

A February half term stays costs from PS199 for two adults and two children, Easter breaks cost from PS254, May half term breaks cost from PS244 and summer holiday breaks cost from PS254.

You may qualify for a different type of break instead.

Beyond this, «smoking breaks» in themselves aren’t a legal entitlement and they cannot be claimed without the employer’s consent.

remember that good and be said for mini breaks the day Culverhouse » The survey also found that Britons aged 25 to 34 were the age group most likely to use a short break from work to complete a personal chore (29 per cent).

Perran View Holiday Park -St Agnes Service Charge PS8.50 pupn per Spring/Autumn break, PS10 pupn per Summer break.

Longer breaks are beneficial, but frequent shorter breaks are even better.

HEC-RAS hydraulic model is capable to model both types of break in soil dams including overtopping and piping phenomenon.

thing, breaks in the phases of the moon, breaks in the darling, the

To celebrate the best of summer, Super-Valu’s latest Getaway Breaks is an unbeatable value deal for the whole family — a 4 night B&B hotel break for 2 adults and 2 children for just EUR299.

Your break option may also depend on certain conditions, which can include all rents being fully paid up to the break date.

Our employee manual says that employees are to have a 30-minute lunch break and be on the job for the entire shift unless prior arrangements are made.

BANNING workers from using the internet for personal use could actually be hitting productivity because staff need a break to help reduce stress, according to a new report.

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Break and its various forms are found in a number of idioms and expressions. Here is an extensive but likely incomplete list of such usages.

1. All hell break(s) loose: chaos ensues
2. Break bad: defy authority
3. Break bread: to dine together, thus symbolizing peace and cooperation
4. Break a code: figure out a system for disguising communication
5. Break a law: do something illegal
6. Break a leg: an expression from the performing arts equivalent to “Good luck”
7. Break a/the record: exceed the previous best performance
8. Break a habit: stop doing something one does regularly
9. Break a story: be the first journalist to report on an incident or issue
10. Break away: separate from a group
11. Break (one’s) back: expend a great deal of effort for a result
12. Break (one’s) balls: overwhelm or overwork someone
13. Break camp: pack equipment at a campsite in preparation for departure
14. Break down: physically or emotionally collapse, or reduce something to its constituent parts
15. Break even: end up with the same amount of money one had before investing or gambling
16. Break faith: cease to support, or to abide by a promise
17. Break (one’s) fall: prevent a fall of one’s body that might have caused injury
18. Break for: pause for
19. Break formation: cease to operate in an established formation or pattern
20. Break free: release oneself from a literal or figurative restraint
21. Break (one’s) heart: suffer emotional distress
22. Break ground: begin construction
23. Break in (or into): enter by force
24. Break (one) in: introduce someone to something, or initiate someone into something
25. Break it up: an admonition to stop what one is doing, especially arguing or fighting
26. Break loose: separate from
27. Break into a gallop: suddenly increase one’s pace to a gallop while riding a horse
28. Break new ground: begin something new or do something different
29. Break (one) of (something): cause someone to stop doing something habitual
30. Break of dawn: beginning of the day
31. Break off: stop or cease
32. Break open: forcibly open
33. Break out: forcibly remove something from something else, literally or figuratively escape, burst forth suddenly, separate (as into groups), or develop pimples
34. Break out in a cold sweat: become suddenly nervous or frightened so that one literally or figurative perspires
35. Break out in a rash: suddenly develop a skin condition
36. Break out in tears: suddenly begin crying
37. Break ranks: cease to adhere to a certain opinion or cause
38. Break silence: cease to refrain from speaking about something
39. Break (one’s) stride: suddenly stop walking
40. Break the back of: reduce the power or end the domination of
41. Break the bank: use all of one’s funds
42. Break the fourth wall: address an audience directly rather than act as if there is no audience (said of an actor)
43. Break the ice: do something to alleviate awkwardness or nervousness
44. Break the mold: do something differently than it has been done before, or, in the case of a comment that “They broke the mold when . . . ,” a sentiment that someone or something has no equal
45. Break the news: share (often unpleasant) information
46. Break the silence: speak up about a topic previously avoided
47. Break the spell: end a period in which one experienced delight
48. Break through: overcome
49. Break (something) to (someone): provide (usually unpleasant) news or information
50. Break up: to separate into pieces
51. Break up with: to end a romantic relationship with
52. Break wind: create flatulence
53. Break with: end a relationship with
54. Break with tradition: deviate from custom or standard practice
55. Break (one’s) word: renege on a promise
56. Breaking point: the limit of physical or emotional endurance
57. Broke: out of money
58. Broken arrow: military jargon or code referring to an accident involving nuclear weaponry or to a request for air support for a threatened position
59. Broken dreams: unfulfilled aspirations
60. (Sound like a) broken record: sound repetitive, like a vinyl record that skips and therefore repeatedly plays a sound
61. Broken reed: unreliable person (on the analogy of the broken reed of a reed instrument)
62. Even break: even chance
63. (Make a) clean break: escape without complications, or start over again
64. Give me a break: said to express skepticism or exasperation
65. Go for broke: risk everything
66. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it: don’t try to improve something that works well
67. Lucky break: fortunate occurrence
68. Make a break for it: attempt to escape or get away
69. Make or break: said of a critical action that will result in significant success or failure
70. Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me: a child’s response to name-calling expressing that he or she is not injured by the name-calling
71. Take a break: pause while working
72. That’s the breaks/them’s the breaks: an expression of mild sympathy for bad luck
73. The straw that breaks the camel’s back: the final unfortunate or unpleasant incident that results in abandoning or rejecting a situation
74. Tough break: bad luck
75. You cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs: a saying referring to the fact that sacrifices must be made to obtain desirable results

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Idioms with ‘break’

В этой статье перечислены 10 часто используемых идиом с глаголом break.

to break the news =  to tell someone about something unpleasant that has happened (сообщить неприятную новость)

We broke the news to grandma gently. — Мы деликатно сообщили бабушке новость.

to break down = to stop working (сломаться, перестать работать)

Our car broke down 10 miles from home. — Наша машина сломалась в 10 милях от дома.

to work without a break = to work without having rest (работать без перерыва)

We’ve been working without a break for 9 hours already. — Мы работаем без перерыва уже 9 часов.

breakneck speed = dangerously fast speed (головокружительная скорость)

I didn’t want to drive at the breakneck speed like the others did, and soon lost sight of everyone in the darkness. — Я не хотел мчаться на сумасшедшей скорости как все остальные, и скоро потерял их из виду в темноте.

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to break the ice = to make people who have not met before feel relaxed with each other (начать общение, побороть стеснительность, создать непринужденную атмосферу)

Jenny was incredibly nervous before her presentation, but she broke the ice with her audience by starting out with a funny joke. — Дженни сильно нервничала перед презентацией, но ей удалось наладить контакт с аудиторией при помощи смешной шутки в начале выступления.

to break up with somebody =  to end a close relationship (расстаться с кем-то)

breakup = the end of a serious relationship (расставание)

It’s been 6 months since my breakup but  I still miss him and  I still love him. — С момента нашего расставания прошло 6 месяцев, но я до сих пор скучаю по нему, и до сих пор люблю его.

breakthrough = an important discovery or development (прорыв)

The cloning of Dolly the sheep was  a major scientific and technological breakthrough. — Клонирование овечки Долли стало  огромным научным и технологическим прорывом.

to break off =  to suddenly stop speaking or doing something (замолкать, внезапно прерываться)

He broke off in the middle of a sentence and looked out of the window. — На середине предложения он вдруг замолчал и посмотрел в окно.

break-in = when someone forces their way into a building or car, usually to steal something (взлом с целью ограбления)

There was a break-in at their house last week. — Их дом взломали и ограбили на прошлой неделе.

to break somebody’s heart = to make someone very unhappy (разбить чье-то сердце)

He broke my heart but I still love him. — Он разбил мне сердце, но я до сих пор люблю его.

Все статьи, посвященные идиомам, Вы можете найти здесь.

a dog’s breakfast

беспорядок

The new secretary made a dog’s breakfast out of the filing system!

Новая секретарша устроила полную неразбериху в системе заполнения!

break a habit

kick the habit

To stop a bad habit.

Бросить вредную привычку.

I want you to break your habit of smoking two packets of cigarettes a day.

Я хочу, чтобы ты бросил свою привычку выкуривать по две пачки сигарет в день.

Once a child becomes accustomed to chewing his nails, it’s difficult to kick the habit.

The doctor advised the heavy cigarette smoker that her heart had become damaged and that she should kick the habit right away.

break a law

Нарушать закон.

Laws like promises shouldn’t be broken.

Законы, как обещания, не следует нарушать.

break a leg

Дословно: сломай ногу
Таким образом англоговорящие люди желают друг другу удачи. Это выражение – примерный эквивалент русского выражения «ни пуха, ни пера».

«Break a leg!» the director called to the lead actor.

«Ни пуха, ни пера!» крикнул режиссер главному актеру.

I’ve got an exam tomorrow.
Break a leg!
Thank you!

У меня завтра экзамен.
Ни пуха, ни пера!
К черту!

break away

break loose

To liberate oneself from someone or something.

Jane tried to break loose from her attacker, but he was too strong.

During the bad storm, the boat broke loose from the landing and drifted out to sea.

One bicyclist broke loose from the pack of racers and pulled ahead towards the finish line.

break camp

To take down and pack tents and camping things; take your things from a camping place.

The scouts broke camp at dawn.

break down

(stress on down) To smash or hit (something) so that it falls; cause to fall by force.

The firemen broke down the door.

To reduce or destroy the strength or effect of; weaken; win over.

Потерять самообладание; потерять выдержку.

By helpful kindness the teacher broke down the new boy’s shyness.

Advertising breaks down a lot of stubbornness against change.

The girl broke down and started to cry.

Девочка не выдержала и разрыдалась.

To separate into elements or parts; decay.

Water is readily broken down into hydrogen and oxygen.

After many years, rocks break down into dirt.

To become unusable because of breakage or other failure; lose power to work or go.

The car broke down after half an hour’s driving.

When the coach was sick in bed, the training rules of the team broke down.

I just bought my new car yesterday and already it has broken down.

The elevator broke down, so we walked all the way up to the top floor.

break even

To end a series of gains and losses having the same amount you started with; have expenses equal to profits; have equal gain and loss. Stress on even.

The storekeeper made many sales, but his expenses were so high that he just broke even.

If you gamble you are lucky when you break even.

Idioms and Phrases That Use the Word “Break”

Idioms are an interesting part of English. Idioms are a type of figurative language where the meaning of the word or phrase is different from its literal meaning.

For example, a well-known idiom is:

You can’t judge a book by its cover.

Which means you shouldn’t judge something or someone based on how they look.

Many of us use idioms all the time without realizing it. But if you’re an author, songwriter, or poet, you might seek them out to enhance your work!

Break is a word commonly used in idioms. So, in this guide, we’ll break down 14 idioms that use the word break.

To make an omelette, you must break a few eggs

Which means you must sacrifice some things to gain success.

Break even

Which means having earned back the same amount of money spent on business, gambling, or investing.

Break away

Which means to separate from something.

Break bread

Which means to eat with someone.

Break wind

Which means to pass gas (excuse you!).

Lucky/big break

A fortunate occurrence or event.

The straw that breaks the camel’s back

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Which means a final action or incident that causes a big, sudden reaction.

Make or break

Which means an event or action that either brings success or failure.

Make a break

Which means trying to escape or get away from something or a situation.

Breaking point

Which means the point at which someone or something reaches its physical or emotional limit.

Break up

Which means ending a romantic relationship.

Break the spell

Which means ending something that you enjoyed.

Break the ice

Which means doing something that relieves awkwardness or nervousness.

Break the fourth wall

Which means speaking to or addressing an audience directly as an actor.

After those 14 examples, we’ll give you a break.

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Распространенность фразовых глаголов в английском языке всегда вызывает много вопросов у тех, кто начинает учить язык. Тонкие оттенки значения поначалу очень тяжело даются для запоминания. Уверенность приходит с практикой, нужно просто запоминать самые главные значения, иногда даже просто зазубривать.

Давайте пройдемся по некоторым выражениям для того, чтобы иметь представление о тонкостях перевода фразовых глаголов со словом «break». Cлово «break» в словаре имеет огромное множество вариантов перевода и значений. В общем, оно означает «процесс перехода от чего-то целого к более мелкому» или «разрушение». Фразовые глаголы со словом «break» имеют огромное количество значений. Давайте рассмотрим некоторые из них.

Ложка дегтя в бочке меда

Так как само слово «break» уже имеет некоторое негативное значение (разбить, сломать), то вполне очевидно, что многие фразовые глаголы, образованные от него, также будут иметь некоторый негативный оттенок.

Break down — ломать, разбивать

Break down — этим глаголом можно охарактеризовать состояние механизмов или здоровья человека. Он имеет несколько негативный оттенок значения. В случае с механизмами он будет иметь значение «ломать или разбивать», а в случае со здоровьем людей — «ухудшать, сдавать». Сравните: 

  • My drill has broken down. — Моя дрель сломалась.  (Случай с механизмами)
  • You can break down if you do not give up smoking. — Ты можешь подорвать свое здоровье, если не бросишь курить. (Что касается людей)

Break in — вломиться, врываться

Фразовый глагол break in может иметь разные значения, это зависит от отношения к предметам в разговоре. Основное значение — это «вламываться» или «врываться».
Например:

Police broke into the house to neutralize the gangsters. — Полиция вломилась в дом для того, чтобы обезвредить бандитов.

Но это еще не все значения этого фразового глагола. Если описываемая ситуация связана с разговором — то глагол break in можно перевести как «вмешиваться». Если вам пришлось прервать чью-то беседу, то вы можете вежливо извиниться, сказав: I’m so sorry to break in on your conversation. — Я извиняюсь за то, что вмешиваюсь в ваш разговор.

Советуем к прочтению:  В чем разница между Sorry и Excuse me?

Следующее значение, с которым вы можете столкнуться, используя break in — это «обкатывать, объезжать», например, в том случае, когда мы говорим о лошадях или машинах. Особенно такое применение этого глагола будет интересно мужчинам. Например:

  • It was difficult for him to break in this horse. — Ему было трудно объездить эту лошадь.
  • You have to break in this new car. — Вам необходимо обкатать эту новую машину.

машина,

Break out — начаться, разразиться

Break out имеет очень простое значение, и поэтому его крайне легко применять. Основной его перевод — «начаться, разразиться, вспыхнуть». Обычно так говорят о начале войны или кризиса. Например:

The world financial crisis broke out in 2008. — Мировой финансовый кризис начался в 2008.

Но также вы можете встретить этот глагол и в другом контексте. Такое значение break out как «выламывать» можно использовать в следующем виде: We had to break the door out to escape from the fire. — Нам пришлось выломать дверь, чтобы выбраться из огня.

Есть еще одно значение фразового глагола break out — это «сбегать». Это может касаться любой ситуации, когда человек самовольно и тайно, возможно, с применением силы покидает какое-то место. Например:

Three men broke out of prison yesterday. — Три человека сбежали вчера из тюрьмы.

Break off — отвалиться, отломаться

Break off значит «отвалиться, отломаться» — тоже не очень приятная ситуация, с которой лучше не сталкиваться. Например:

The wing of the plane broke off unexpectedly. — У самолета неожиданно отвалилось крыло.

Break up — распадаться, разваливаться

Break up — еще одна неприятная ситуация, которая может произойти не без участия фразовых глаголов. Это тот случай, когда люди прекращают отношения, т.е. расходятся. В этом случае мы используем глагол break up (расходиться). Например:

Did you know that July and Tom broke up?  — Ты знаешь, что Джули и Том разошлись?

Но также мы можем использовать его и в отношении неживых объектов в значении «распадаться, разваливаться, прекращать». Например:

He tried to break up the fight between two friends. — Он пытался прекратить драку между двумя друзьями.

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Вперед и только вперед!

Существует еще несколько фразовых глаголов со словом «break». Это такие глаголы, как break through (прорваться, пробиться), break away (убежать, вырваться), break loose (сбежать) и break forth (вырваться; прорваться). Они, как видите, имеют позитивные значения, означающие некоторое продвижение. Сравните некоторые примеры:

  • Finally the sun broke through after days of rain. — Наконец после многих дождливых дней выглянуло солнце.
  • This part of the country wanted to break away and become independent. — Эта часть страны хотела отделиться и стать независимой.
  • The army broke forth to the East. — Армия прорвалась на восток.
  • Two prisoners broke loose but they were caught this morning. — Двое заключенных сбежали, но были пойманы сегодня утром.

Как видите, фразовых глаголов со словом «break» большое количество. Еще больше различных его значений и сочетаний, но их довольно просто запомнить, потому что так или иначе они все связаны с основным значением «break» (ломать, разбивать). Более подробные переводы и примеры можно посмотреть в любом онлайн или оффлайн словаре. Зависимо от контекста, вы можете использовать любой из этих фразовых глаголов и, таким образом, сделать свою речь более насыщенной, разнообразной и яркой.

Список полезных фраз

break down — ломаться, разбиваться, ухудшаться
break in/into — вламываться, врываться
broke out — сбегать,начаться, разразиться
break off — отламываться, отваливаться
breK up — расставаться, распадаться, прекращать
break through — прорваться, пробиться
break away — убежать, вырваться
break loose — убежать
break forth — вырваться, прорваться

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5 IDIOMS WITH «BREAK»

1. to break the news = to be the first to tell someone some bad news (сообщить неприятную новость)

If you think it’s time to separate, remember to keep your partner’s feelings in mind when you break the news.

The doctor broke the news that I had cancer.

2. breakneck speed = very fast speed (головокружительная скорость)

In the next few years, the payments industry is expected to grow at breakneck speed and bring in a lot of novelty with cashless methods of payment.

The electric vehicle market is expected to grow at breakneck speed over the next decade.

3. to break the ice = to do something that makes people feel more relaxed in a social situation (начать общение; побороть стеснительность; создать непринужденную атмосферу)

What is the best way to break the ice while starting a conversation?

Making a joke can break the ice when you meet someone for the first time.

4. to break someone’s heart = to make someone who loves you very unhappy (разбить чье-то сердце)

My boyfriend broke my heart when he cheated on me with my best friend.

She broke his heart when she said she’d been mistaken about her feelings for him.

5. to break up with someone = to end a close relationship (расстаться с кем-то)

breakup = the end of a serious relationship (расставание)

Two month ago my ex-girlfriend broke up with me because she said I was becoming too clingy and possessive.

I decided to break up with him because I got tired of his attitude and his character.

Answer the questions.

1. Have you ever had to break bad news to someone? What was the news, and how did you do it?

2. What do you think of people who drive at breakneck speeds?

3. What is your favorite joke for breaking the ice?

4. Have you ever had a broken heart? Have you ever broken someone’s heart?

5. Why do people break up with someone they once thought was the love of their life?

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List of idioms with the word “Break” and the meanings. Commonly used idioms related to “break” and their meanings along with example sentences.

Idioms With "Break" and Meanings

Idioms With Break

  1. “To take a break” – This means to stop or pause for a short period of time. Example: “I need to take a break and stretch my legs before continuing the hike.”
  2. “To break even” – This means to have no profit or loss. Example: “After expenses, the company broke even and didn’t make a profit or suffer a loss.”
  3. “To break the ice” – This means to ease tension or make a start in a social situation. Example: “The host introduced some games to break the ice and get everyone comfortable with each other.”
  4. “To break the news” – This means to inform someone of something important. Example: “I’m afraid I have to break the news to him that his favorite team lost the game.”
  5. “To break a record” – This means to surpass the best performance previously achieved. Example: “The athlete broke a record and set a new world record in the 100-meter dash.”
  6. “To break a habit” – This means to stop doing something that has become a routine. Example: “I’m trying to break the habit of smoking and it’s been a struggle.”
  7. “To break ranks” – This means to depart from a group or organization. Example: “The politician broke ranks with his party and took a stand on the controversial issue.”

Break the ice;

to get things started, particularly by means of a social introduction or conversation
1. It didn’t take long for the guests at the party to break the ice. By the time dinner was served, almost everyone was chatting with someone they had just met.
2. I’m afraid we haven’t met. Let me break the ice by introducing myself. My name is John Taylor.
The expression suggests the idea of breaking through an icy surface to clear a path for ships.

Make or break;

to be the deciding factor in whether something succeeds or fails
1. The Smiths were about to sell their house, but the buyers didn’t like the color. The Smiths decided to give it a new coat of paint at no extra cost, in case painting the house might make or break the deal.
2. Susan decided to study for the test through the night. She knew that her grade on this test would make or break her chances of getting admitted to graduate school.

Break a leg!

good luck. (Theatrical slang. This is said to actors before a performance instead of Good luck. Also used literally.)
Before the play, John said to Mary, “Break a leg!”
Saying “Break a leg!” before a performance is an old theatrical tradition.

break away from someone or something

and break away to get away or pull away from someone or something.
It was hard for John to break away from his mother.
John finally broke away. His mother cried and cried.
The dog broke away from its owner.
The iceberg broke away from the glacier.

break camp

to close down a campsite; to pack up and move on.
Early this morning we broke camp and moved on northward.
Okay, everyone. It’s time to break camp. Take those tents down and fold them nearly.

break down

1. to fall apart; to stop operating.
The air conditioning broke down, and we got very warm.
The car broke down in the parking lot.
2. to lose control of one’s emotions; to have a nervous collapse.
He couldn’t keep going. He finally broke down and wept.
I was afraid I’d break down.

break even

for income to equal expenses. (This implies that money was not earned or lost.)
Unfortunately my business just managed to break even last year.
I made a bad investment, but I broke even. break ground for something and break ground to start digging the foundation for a building.
The president of the company came to break ground for the new building.
This was the third building this year for which this company has broken ground.
When will they break ground?

break in on someone or something

and break in to interrupt someone or something; to come in suddenly and interrupt someone or something.
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to break in on your conference.
Tom frequently broke in on his sister and her boyfriend.
I think he broke in on purpose.

break into something and break

in to enter into a place (illegally) by the use of force.
The robber broke into the house.
If the door had been left unlocked, he wouldn’t have had to break in.

break loose from someone or something

and break loose to get away from a person or a thing which is holding one.
The criminal broke loose from the police officer.
It’s hard to break loose from home.
I was twenty years old before I could break loose.

break new ground

to begin to do something which no one else has done; to pioneer (in an enterprise).
Dr. Anderson was breaking new ground in cancer research.
They were breaking new ground in consumer electronics. break off with someone and break off to end a friendship with someone, especially a boyfriend or a girlfriend.
Tom has finally broken off with Mary.
I knew it couldn’t last. He was bound to break off.

break one’s neck to do something

and break one’s back to do something; break one’s back; break one’s neck to work very hard to do something. (Never used in its literal sense.)
I broke my neck to get here on time.
That’s the last time I’ll break my neck to help you.There is no point in breaking your back. Take your time.

break out

1. See break out of something. 2. (for one’s face) to erupt in pimples.
Bob’s face has started breaking out badly.
My face breaks out when I eat a lot of chocolate.

break out in a cold sweat

to perspire from fever, fear, or anxiety. □ I was so frightened I broke out in a cold sweat.
The patient broke out in a cold sweat.

break out in something

and break out to erupt with something such as a rash, a cold sweat, or pimples.
After being in the woods, I broke out in a rash. I think it’s poison ivy.
I hate to break out like that.
When I eat chocolate, I break out in pimples.

break out into tears

and break into tears; break out in tears to start crying suddenly.
I was so sad that I broke out into tears.
I always break into tears at a funeral.
It’s hard not to break out in tears under those circumstances.

break out of something

and break out to force one’s way out of a place.
The criminal broke out of jail.
The lion broke out of its cage and terrorized the village.
I’ve always been afraid that the lion would break out.

break someone or something down

and break down someone or something
1. [with someone]to force someone to give up and tell secrets or agree to do something.
After threats of torture, they broke the spy down.
They broke down the agent by threatening violence.
2. [with something]to tear something down; to destroy something.
They used an ax to break the door down.
We broke down the wall with big hammers.

break someone or something in

and break in someone or something; break in
1. [with someone]to train someone to do a job; to supervise a new person learning a new job.
I have to break in a new worker.
It takes time to break a new worker in.
Are they hard to break in?
2. [with something]to make something fit by wearing or using it.
I’ll be glad when I’ve finished breaking in these shoes.
Yes, it takes time to break them in.
They are easy to break in, though.
The car will run better after I break it in.

break someone or something up

and break up someone or something
1. [with someone]to cause a person to laugh, perhaps at an inappropriate time. (Informal.)
John told a joke which really broke Mary up.
The comedian ‘s job was to break up the audience by telling jokes.
2. [with something]to destroy something.
The police broke up the gambling ring.
The storm broke the docks up on the lake.

break someone’s fall

to cushion a falling person; to lessen the impact of a falling person.
When the little boy fell out of the window, the bushes broke his fall.
The old lady slipped on the ice, but a snowbank broke her fall.

break someone’s heart

to cause someone emotional pain.
It just broke my heart when Tom ran away from home.
Sally broke John’s heart when she refused to marry him.

break something away

and break something loose; break something off; break off something to break and dislodge a piece of something.
Break the glass away from the frame, and then put in the new pane of glass.
I broke a tooth loose.
Have some of this candy. Break a piece off.
Okay, I’ll break off a piece.

break something to pieces

to shatter something. (Informal.)
I broke my crystal vase to pieces.
I dropped a glass and broke it to pieces.

break the back of something

to end the domination of something; to reduce the power of something.
The government has worked for years to break the back of organized crime.
This new medicine should break the back of the epidemic.

break the news to someone

and break the news to tell someone some important news, usually bad news.
The doctor had to break the news to Jane about her husband’s cancer.
I hope that the doctor broke the news gently.

break through something

and break through to break something and pass through; to overcome something. (Used both literally and figuratively.)
Tom was able to break through racial barriers.
They are hard to break through in some places.
The scientists broke through the mystery surrounding the disease and found the cause.

breakthrough

the discovery of a solution to a problem.
The scientists working on cancer made a major break-through.

break up with someone

and break up to end a love affair or a romance.
Tom finally broke up with Mary.
I thought they would break up. He has been so moody lately.

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Idioms and phrases

There are a number of expressions in the English language which are crucial in speaking and writing. Today in this lesson, we are going to see some frequently used Idioms and phrases with the verb ‘break.’

1. to break cover

If you break cover, you leave a place where you been hiding or sheltering from attack, usually in order to run to another place.

Example: After being ambushed, the soldiers had to quickly break cover and look for a safer place.

2. break a fall

If you break a fall. you lessen the force of a fall.

Example:

3. break ground

If you break down, you commence an undertaking.

Example:

4. break the heart

to break the heart means to afflict grievously, to cause to suffer seriously from grief.

Example:

5. break the ice

to break the ice means to start conversation. The phrase also means to get over the feeling of restraint which one may have in the presence of new acquaintance.

Example:

6. break the news to a person

to break the news to a person means to communicate news quite unexpectedly to him in such a way as to diminish the shock:

Example:

He broke the news to his wife as gently as he could that he lost all his money to due to the failure of the bank.

7. break the back of a job

to break the back of a job is to have disposed of the main part of the task assigned to him.

Example:

8. broken health

broken health means impaired health or not in good health.

Example:

9. broken sleep

broken sleep means interrupted sleep.

Example:

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