| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| break away |
move away, go away from, stop doing or using
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She tried to break away when the cult leader asked for her savings.
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| break curfew |
stay out later than the rules allow
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If you break curfew, the coach will remind you of the rules.
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| break down |
fail, not operate, out of order
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If that copier breaks down again I'm going to give it away.
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| break in |
operate or drive slowly when it is new
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When I bought my first new car, Dad said to break it in carefully.
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| break into |
break a door or window to enter, break and enter
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I couldn't believe that my son would break into a store.
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| break into song |
begin to sing suddenly, sing without warning
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One of our teachers used to break into song when he taught poetry.
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| break off |
tell a friend that you wish to stop seeing him
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She wonders if she should break off her relationship with Liam.
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| break out |
escape, get away, bust out
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He was shot trying to break out of prison - trying to escape.
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| break out |
happen suddenly, erupt
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A riot will break out if you don't talk to the strikers.
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| break out in a rash |
have a rash appear on your skin
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When the temperature goes over 30° the baby breaks out in a rash.
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