break down
To stop functioning or fall apart
Browse all entries 6055
All languages English Tiếng Việt
break even
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break gates
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break in
Interrupt or intrude into a conversation or activity
break into
start doing something suddenly
break into a run
start running suddenly
break it to
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break one's back
to work extremely hard
break one's chops
to tease or annoy someone
break one's duck
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break one's lance
To take a risk or make a bold effort
break one's neck
to exert oneself greatly or take a big risk
break one's promise
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break open
To force something open or to start using something
break out
To suddenly start doing something or to escape
break ranks
To disobey or disagree with a group's opinion or decision
break reality
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break someone's face
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break someone's heart
cause someone intense emotional pain
break the back of
Defeat.
break the bank
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break the buck
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break the cycle
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break the deadlock
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break the fourth wall
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break the Internet
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break the mold
Do something entirely new and original
break the Sabbath
to disobey or disregard the Sabbath day's rules
break the seal
to start something that will lead to more of the same
break the story
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break the wheel
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break through
to succeed or make progress after a lot of effort
break up
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break up with somebody
End a romantic relationship with someone
break wind
to pass gas from the digestive system
break-down
A noisy dance, almost violent enough to break the floor down; a jovial, social gathering, a "flare up;" in Ireland, a wedding—American so far as the dance is concerned.
break-teeth words
Hard words, difficult to pronounce.
Breakers Ahead
Hidden danger at hand. Breakers in the open sea always announce sunken rocks, sand banks, etc.
Breaking a Stick
Part of the marriage ceremony of certain North American Indians, as breaking a wineglass is part of the marriage ceremony of the Jews.
breaking of bread
The Eucharist. They continued ... in breaking of bread, and in prayer.— Acts ii, 42 and 46.
breaking shins
Borrowing money; perhaps from the figurative operation being, like the real one, extremely disagreeable to the patient.
breaky-leg
Strong drink; "he’s been to Bungay fair, and broke both his legs," i.e., got drunk. In the ancient Egyptian language the determinative character in the hieroglyphic verb "to be drank," has the significant form of the leg of a man being amputated. "Tangle Leg" is the name given to New England rum.
breast fleet
He or she belongs to the breast fleet; i.e. is a Roman catholic; an appellation derived from their custom of beating their breasts in the confession of their sins.
breasticle
A breast.
breath of fresh air
Something or someone that brings a refreshing change
breathe a sigh of relief
Feel relieved after a difficult situation
breathe a word
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
breathe down someone's neck
to closely supervise or monitor someone
breathe easy
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
breathe in
To inhale.
breathe one's last
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
breathe out
To exhale.
Breche de Roland
A deep defile in the crest of the Pyrenees, some three hundred feet in width, between two precipitous rocks. The legend is that Roland, the paladin, cleft the rock in two with his sword Durandal, when he was set upon by the Gascons at Roncesvalles.
bred in the bone
A part of one's nature. "What's bred m the bone will come out in the flesh." A natural propensity cannot be repressed.
breeched
Money in the pocket: the swell is well breeched, let's draw him; the gentleman has plenty of money in his pocket, let us rob him.
breeched
Or TO HAVE THE BAGS OFF, to have plenty of money; "to be well BREECHED," to be in good circumstances. Also among schoolboys to be well flogged.
breeches
To wear the breeches; a woman who governs her husband is said to wear the breeches.
breeches
"to wear the BREECHES," said of a wife who usurps the husband’s prerogative. Equivalent to the remark that "the grey mare is the better horse."
breeches bible
An edition of the Bible printed in 1598, wherein it is said that Adam and Eve sewed figleaves together, and made themselves breeches.
breeches buoy
A pair of short canvas breeches forming a cradle in which, by means of a pulley and rope, people can be con- veyed from ship to ship or ship to shore.
Advertisement
Ad space — ads help keep Idiomer free. Premium will remove them.