30 Collocations with Break You Should Know

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Collocations are pairs or groups of words that are often used together. Using collocations can make your English sound more natural. Here are 30 most common collocations with " break," each with a definition, phonetic transcription, and examples.

30 Most Common Collocations with Break

Collocations with Break: Unlock the power of phrases! Discover 30 essential collocations to enhance your English fluency and communication skills.

1. Break a Habit 🚬

Definition: To stop doing something that is a regular practice or habit.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ə ˈhæbɪt/

Examples:

1. It can be challenging to break a habit of smoking.
2. She decided to break a habit of biting her nails.

2. Break the Law 🚔

Definition: To violate or go against legal rules.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ðə lɔː/

Examples:

1. If you break the law, you will face consequences.
2. Breaking the law can lead to serious penalties.

3. Break the News 📢

Definition: To inform someone of important news, often of a negative nature.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ðə njuːz/

Examples:

1. He had to break the news about the accident to his family.
2. It's never easy to break the news of a loved one's passing.

4. Break a Record 🏅

Definition: To surpass a previous achievement or record.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ə ˈrekɔːrd/

Examples:

1. She trained hard to break a record in the marathon.
2. The athlete broke a record that had stood for ten years.

5. Break a Promise 🤝

Definition: To fail to keep a promise.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ə ˈprɒmɪs/

Examples:

1. He felt guilty for breaking a promise to his friend.
2. It's important not to break a promise to children.

6. Break the Silence 🤫

Definition: To speak after a period of silence.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ðə ˈsaɪləns/

Examples:

1. She finally broke the silence with a laugh.
2. He decided to break the silence and address the issue.

7. Break the Ice ❄️

Definition: To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social setting.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ði aɪs/

Examples:

1. His joke helped to break the ice at the party.
2. Icebreakers are used to break the ice in meetings.

8. Break Ground 🚧

Definition: To begin a new construction project.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk graʊnd/

Examples:

1. They will break ground on the new library next month.
2. The company plans to break ground on its new headquarters soon.

9. Break Free 🕊️

Definition: To escape from restraint or confinement.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk friː/

Examples:

1. The captive bird managed to break free from its cage.
2. She needed to break free from her toxic relationship.

10. Break the Bank 💸

Definition: To use up all of one’s money or resources.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ðə bæŋk/

Examples:

1. Buying that car won't break the bank.
2. They tried to enjoy their vacation without breaking the bank.

11. Break Even ⚖️

Definition: To neither gain nor lose money in a financial situation.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ˈiːvən/

Examples:

1. After a year, the business finally broke even.
2. Their goal was to break even by the end of the quarter.

12. Break a Leg 🎭

Definition: A way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ə leɡ/

Examples:

1. Before the play, everyone told her to break a leg.
2. Break a leg on your presentation today!

13. Break the Mold 🧱

Definition: To do something in a new, innovative way.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ðə məʊld/

Examples:

1. His unique approach to the project really broke the mold.
2. The new CEO aims to break the mold with her innovative strategies.

14. Break New Ground 🌱

Definition: To do something innovative that has not been done before.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk njuː graʊnd/

Examples:

1. Their research is breaking new ground in cancer treatment.
2. The artist broke new ground with her latest exhibition.

15. Break the Rules 🚫

Definition: To violate the rules of a game or system.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ðə ruːlz/

Examples:

1. If you break the rules, you will be disqualified.
2. Breaking the rules can result in severe consequences.

16. Break One's Heart 💔

Definition: To cause someone great emotional pain.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk wʌnz hɑːrt/

Examples:

1. It broke his heart to see her leave.
2. She didn't want to break his heart with the bad news.

17. Break the Back Of 🏋️

Definition: To overcome the main difficulty of a task.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ðə bæk ʌv/

Examples:

1. We've broken the back of the project, now just the finishing touches remain.
2. Breaking the back of the workload allowed them to relax.

18. Break Down 🚗

Definition: To stop functioning (for machines) or to lose control emotionally.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk daʊn/

Examples:

1. The car broke down on the highway.
2. She broke down in tears after hearing the news.

19. Break the Habit 🚫🚬

Definition: To stop a habitual action.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ðə ˈhæbɪt/

Examples:

1. He is trying to break the habit of procrastination.
2. Breaking the habit of eating junk food can be tough.

20. Break Up 💔

Definition: To end a relationship or to disperse.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ʌp/

Examples:

1. They decided to break up after five years together.
2. The police were called to break up the fight.

21. Break Out 🔥

Definition: To escape or to begin suddenly.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk aʊt/

Examples:

1. The prisoners tried to break out of jail.
2. A fire broke out in the kitchen.

22. Break Through 🌅

Definition: To make a significant discovery or progress.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk θruː/

Examples:

1. Scientists broke through in their search for a cure.
2. The company is trying to break through in the tech market.

23. Break Off ✂️

Definition: To end abruptly.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ɒf/

Examples:

1. They decided to break off the engagement.
2. He had to break off the conversation to take an urgent call.

24. Break Away 🏃

Definition: To leave or escape from a group.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk əˈweɪ/

Examples:

1. She decided to break away from the band and go solo.
2. The colony broke away from the empire to form a new nation.

25. Break In 🔓

Definition: To enter a place illegally or to interrupt.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ɪn/

Examples:

1. Someone tried to break in last night.
2. He broke in on our conversation to share the news.

26. Break Out In 🛑

Definition: To develop a skin condition suddenly.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk aʊt ɪn/

Examples:

1. She broke out in a rash after eating shellfish.
2. He broke out in hives due to an allergic reaction.

27. Break Up With 💔👫

Definition: To end a romantic relationship.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ʌp wɪð/

Examples:

1. She broke up with him over the phone.
2. It's hard to break up with someone you care about.

28. Break Off Relations 🛑🌐

Definition: To

end a formal relationship or communication.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ɒf rɪˈleɪʃənz/

Examples:

1. The two countries decided to break off relations.
2. Breaking off relations can lead to increased tensions.

29. Break In Shoes 👟

Definition: To wear new shoes until they are comfortable.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ɪn ʃuːz/

Examples:

1. I need to break in these new shoes before the hike.
2. Breaking in shoes can prevent blisters.

30. Break the News To 🗣️

Definition: To inform someone about something, especially if it is bad news.

Phonetic Transcription: /breɪk ðə njuːz tuː/

Examples:

1. He had to break the news to her gently.
2. It's difficult to break the news to someone about a tragedy.

Conclusion

Understanding and using collocations with "break" can significantly enhance your English proficiency. Practice these collocations in sentences to become more familiar with their usage. Happy learning !