Here are some common English phrases beginning with “break”:
1. break down
- Meaning:
- To stop working properly, usually referring to machinery or vehicles.
- To lose control of one’s emotions and start crying or becoming very upset.
- To analyze or explain something in detail.
- Examples:
- The car broke down on the way to the beach. (The car stopped working while on the journey to the beach.)
- She broke down in tears when she heard the bad news. (She lost control of her emotions and started crying upon hearing the bad news.)
- Let’s break down this complex problem into smaller parts. (Let’s analyze this complicated problem by dividing it into smaller components.)
2. break in
- Meaning:
- To enter a building or vehicle by force, usually with the intention of stealing.
- To start using something new gradually so that it becomes more comfortable or effective.
- To interrupt someone who is speaking.
- Examples:
- Thieves broke in last night and stole some valuable items. (Thieves entered the building by force last night and took some valuable things.)
- You should break in your new shoes by wearing them around the house for a few days. (You should start using your new shoes gradually by wearing them indoors for a few days to make them more comfortable.)
- Don’t break in while I’m talking. (Don’t interrupt me while I’m speaking.)
3. break off
- Meaning:
- To separate or disconnect something by breaking it.
- To end a relationship or an activity suddenly.
- Examples:
- He broke off a piece of chocolate and ate it. (He separated a piece of chocolate from the whole and ate it.)
- They decided to break off their engagement. (They chose to end their relationship suddenly.)
4. break out
- Meaning:
- To start suddenly, usually referring to a war, a fire, or a disease.
- To escape from a place.
- Examples:
- World War II broke out in 1939. (World War II started suddenly in 1939.)
- A fire broke out in the factory last night. (A fire started suddenly in the factory last night.)
- The prisoners broke out of jail. (The prisoners escaped from the jail.)
5. break through
- Meaning:
- To make a hole or opening in something by force.
- To achieve success or make an important discovery after a lot of effort.
- Examples:
- The firefighters broke through the wall to rescue the people trapped inside. (The firefighters made a hole in the wall to save the people who were trapped.)
- After years of research, the scientists finally broke through and found a cure for the disease. (After many years of hard work, the scientists achieved success and discovered a treatment for the disease.)
6. break up
- Meaning:
- To come apart or disintegrate into smaller pieces.
- To end a relationship, usually a romantic one.
- To disperse or scatter a group of people.
- Examples:
- The ice on the lake broke up in the spring. (The ice on the lake came apart into smaller pieces in spring.)
- They broke up after a long and bitter argument. (They ended their romantic relationship after a long and intense argument.)
- The police broke up the crowd to prevent any violence. (The police dispersed the group of people to avoid any violent incidents.)
7. break away
- Meaning:
- To escape or get free from someone or something that is holding or controlling you.
- To leave an organization or group.
- Examples:
- The horse broke away from its rider and ran off. (The horse escaped from the control of its rider and ran away.)
- He decided to break away from the political party he had belonged to for years. (He chose to leave the political party he had been a member of for many years.)
8. break even
- Meaning:
- To neither make a profit nor a loss in a business or financial situation.
- Examples:
- The company managed to break even this year after several years of losses. (The company neither made a profit nor suffered a loss this year after experiencing losses for several years.)