break
- noun
- /breɪk/
- Informal
- I must let my work go and endure lucky breaks or rude setbacks.
- big break
- lucky break
All I'm saying to you is maybe that big break may never come right.
- All I'm saying to you is maybe that big break may never come right.
- And what they argued was it's that break that really matters.
- I played semi pro but didn't didn't get get the break to make a professional career.
- Had a had a break, got promoted.
- Limited circumstances but had two great breaks which changed my life.
Examples
-
I call that a break for me.
-
The care worker from Norwich, Norfolk, was returning to work after a career break for childcare.
Academic text (2011) -
And I did catch a break last year.
-
We never catch a break, do we Rose?
-
Finally get a break in my career.
-
I got a lot of lucky breaks, thanks to Lady Laura and others.
Fiction book (1991) -
Samsung just cannot catch a break here, can they?
-
Why don't you give the kid a break?
-
You know, I think Rudy is a really good guy and you should give him a break.
-
After years of hard work, she finally got her big break and landed a leading role in a major film.
Synonyms
A fortunate event that happens by chance
An important chance that helps a person become successful in their career
A sudden chance that helps you succeed
A sudden lucky event that brings good results
A lucky unexpected event that brings something good
Antonyms
Idioms
To overcome barriers that stop women or minority groups getting higher jobs
- Informal
A sudden time when many people lose control and chaos starts
- Informal
To do new or difficult things on purpose to learn and grow
A phrase that says hurt to the body is worse than insults and words do not hurt
Compounds
- Specialized
A smaller tax people or companies must pay to encourage certain activities
- Jargon
A quick attack where a team moves fast down the court to score before the defense sets up
How Lucky
Surface Forms
Etymology
Break comes from an old English word brecan meaning 'to open' or 'to split', and it was used for an opening chance. A 'break' as a lucky chance is like an opening that gives you an opportunity.