Have you ever wondered how native English speakers make their conversation sound so effortless and flowing? One of their secret weapons is the use of collocations – words that go together naturally. An everyday verb that is often part of many collocations is “break”. Knowing how to use “break” in various contexts can enhance your fluency and make your English sound more natural. Curious to learn these “break” collocations and how they can transform your English communication?
Let’s unfold this exciting chapter of English language learning by exploring 27 most commonly used collocations with Break:
1. Break the news – To inform or announce something.
Example: I had to break the news to her that she didn’t get the job.
2. Break a habit – To end a habitual practice.
Example: He is trying to break his habit of late-night snacking.
3. Break a record – To surpass a previous achievement.
Example: The athlete is training hard to break the record in the upcoming tournament.
4. Break the ice – To relieve awkwardness in a social situation.
Example: Humorous anecdotes can help break the ice at a party.
5. Break a promise – To fail to keep a commitment.
Example: It’s not good to break a promise you’ve made.
6. Break the law – To do something illegal.
Example: If you break the law, you must face the consequences.
7. Break a leg – An informal way to wish someone good luck.
Example: Break a leg on your presentation tomorrow!
8. Break the silence – To make a noise when it’s quiet, or to speak in a silent situation.
Example: The sound of the telephone broke the silence in the office.
9. Break even – To neither make a profit nor suffer a loss.
Example: The company managed to break even this fiscal year.
10. Break free – To escape from confinement or control.
Example: The horse broke free from its stable.
11. Break ground – To start a new project or venture.
Example: The company is set to break ground on a new manufacturing plant next month.
12. Break a sweat – To exert oneself physically.
Example: I always break a sweat during my morning workout.
13. Break one’s heart – To cause someone severe emotional pain.
Example: It broke her heart when her childhood pet passed away.
14. Break the cycle – To stop a recurring negative pattern.
Example: We need to break the cycle of poverty in our community.
15. Break the rules – To do something that’s not allowed.
Example: If you break the rules, you will be penalized.
16. Break a curse – To end a period of bad luck.
Example: The team finally broke the curse and won the championship.
17. Break wind – A polite way of saying to pass gas.
Example: It’s impolite to break wind in public.
18. Break the bank – To use up all one’s money.
Example: Buying a new car shouldn’t have to break the bank.
19. Break new ground – To do something innovative. E
xample: The scientist is hoping to break new ground in cancer research.
20. Break the barrier – To overcome an obstacle.
Example: She was the first in her family to break the barrier and go to college.
21. Break the mould – To do something differently from what is considered usual or traditional.
Example: Their innovative approach to business really breaks the mould.
22. Break loose – To get away from something by force.
Example: The prisoner broke loose from his handcuffs.
23. Break bread – To share a meal with someone.
Example: We usually break bread together as a family on Sundays.
24. Break dawn – When the day begins and it starts getting light.
Example: The birds start singing when it breaks dawn.
25. Break one’s fall – To lessen the impact of a fall.
Example: She stretched out her hands to break her fall.
26. Break off – To end something abruptly.
Example: The company decided to break off negotiations.
27. Break out – To suddenly occur or intensify.
Example: Break out in a rash after touching poison ivy.
Understanding and using these “break” collocations in your daily conversation can open up a world of expressions, making your English sound more natural and fluent. Keep practicing, remember consistency is the key, and soon you’ll see a tremendous improvement in your English conversation skills!
