break off

phrasal verb·4 senses·particle off

Meanings

1

End a relationship, talk or activity suddenly

Stopping

Why “off”? A continuous line is snipped. The activity stops.

“They broke off the engagement.”
They ended the engagement suddenly.
“The school broke off talks with the club.”
The school ended talks with the club suddenly.
“She broke off in the middle of a sentence.”
She suddenly stopped speaking in the middle of a sentence.
2

Detach a piece from something larger by breaking

Separation

Why “off”? A piece detaches from the whole. Contact with the body is broken.

“She broke off a piece of chocolate.”
She detached a piece of chocolate from the bar.
“He broke off a dry branch.”
He detached a dry branch by breaking it.
“A handle broke off in my hand.”
A handle snapped away from the object in my hand.
3

End diplomatic, business or personal contact

Stopping
“The two countries broke off relations.”
The two countries ended their diplomatic relations.
“The company broke off talks with the supplier.”
The company ended business contact with the supplier.
4

Take a short pause from an activity

Stopping
“Let's break off for lunch.”
Let's take a pause for lunch.
“Can we break off for ten minutes?”
Can we take a short pause for ten minutes?

Don't confuse with

break offbreak in

Break off means end a relationship, talk or activity suddenly. Break in means enter a building illegally by force.

break offbreak up

Break off means end something suddenly. Break up means end a relationship or gathering.

Test yourself

“They broke off the engagement.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

break in

A contrast learners often mix up

Enter a building illegally by force

break up

A contrast learners often mix up

Break into pieces; End a relationship or gathering

back off

Same off pattern: separation

Move away from someone or something, often in retreat; Stop pressuring or interfering with someone; Withdraw from a previous position or commitment

bite off

Same off pattern: separation

Remove a piece of something by biting it; Take on more than you can handle ("bite off more than you can chew"); Speak sharply and curtly

block off

Same off pattern: separation

Close off an area or route to prevent access; Reserve a period of time for a specific purpose

blow off

Same off pattern: separation

Be removed by force, especially wind; Cancel plans or fail to meet someone deliberately; Release strong feelings, especially anger; Remove dust or particles by blowing air on them

brush off

Same off pattern: separation

Dismiss something or someone as unimportant; Remove dust or dirt by sweeping it lightly; Refuse to talk to someone politely

buy off

Same off pattern: stopping

Bribe someone to stop opposing you

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