ToBE #32: 'Break' dance

It is interesting how adding a different word to “break” alters the meaning. The following is only a sample. More details are available in online dictionaries.

Break in: (a) To enter illegally. (b) Use to make comfortable for regular use.

• (a) There was a break-in in my office.
• (a) The house was not locked and the thieves broke in.
• (b) The batsman took his new bat at the nets to break it in.

Please note that it is not necessary for anything to physically break.

Break out: Start suddenly.

• War broke out in Indonesia.
• If preventive measures are not taken, chikungunya will break out in the district.

Break off: To become detached.

• The handle broke off from the door.
• East Timor broke off from Indonesia.
• After two months of disagreement, the couple decided to break off the engagement.

Break away: To become separated.

• Around the last lap, PT Usha broke off from the group and steamed ahead.

As mentioned, the above is just a sample and I encourage you to look at other usages like ‘break up’, ‘break down’, etc. An interesting snippet:

“Break a leg”: This is a way of wishing a performer before a performance and it is not to be taken literally!