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break

break

319 2.7
A sudden chance that leads to success
  • noun
  • /breɪk/
  • Informal
: oportunidad
  • 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.

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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

good luck
vsbreak
∞ 1.0

A fortunate event that happens by chance

is more specific, focusing on a sudden chance that leads to success
big break
vsbreak
  • Informal
51 3.2

An important chance that helps a person become successful in their career

is more general and not limited to career or major advancement
lucky break
vsbreak
  • Informal
18 3.2

A sudden chance that helps you succeed

emphasizes the chance as an opportunity leading to practical success
stroke of luck
vsbreak
10 3.2

A sudden lucky event that brings good results

frames the situation as an opportunity that can lead to practical success
happy chance
vsbreak
1 3.9

A lucky unexpected event that brings something good

expresses a useful unexpected opportunity rather than merely an accident

Antonyms

710 1.3

Not reaching what was planned or expected

76 3.7

A bad event that causes trouble

Idioms

give me a break
  • Informal
100 7.9

Ask someone to stop criticizing or asking too much of you

to make or break
  • Informal
44 4.5

Decide whether something is a complete success or failure

to break a sweat
  • Informal
24 4.1

To start sweating from hard work or to need to try hard

to break a leg
  • Informal
16 6.3

To wish someone good luck before a performance

To do something in a new way instead of the usual way

To cost a lot of money

To make a sound or speak after a time of silence

3 7.9

A sudden time when many people lose control and chaos starts

3 5.4

Cause a huge rise in online attention and internet traffic

To overcome barriers that stop women or minority groups getting higher jobs

To stop poverty passing from parents to children

1 8.7

To tease or nag someone in a way that annoys them

to break the buck
  • Literature
1 9.8

A money market fund's share price falls below one dollar

6.0

To work very hard at something until you are very tired

Have a first success after trying and failing

9.9

To fight strongly for a good cause in a brave, fair way

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

To look at the sky as the sun comes up

Compounds

113 3.9

An illegal entry into a building to steal or damage things

105 2.0

A short vacation from school in spring, usually one week

tax break
  • Specialized
99 3.0

A smaller tax people or companies must pay to encourage certain activities

big break
  • Informal
51 3.2

An important chance that helps a person become successful in their career

tough break
  • Informal
23 5.8

An unlucky event that makes things harder for someone

22 1.0

A short break from work to drink coffee or eat a small snack

lucky break
  • Informal
18 3.2

A sudden chance that helps you succeed

16 1.2

A short pause to use the toilet

clean break
  • Informal
15 3.9

A complete ending of a relationship or old life to start fresh

13 1.0

A holiday when schools and universities close for winter

fast break
  • Jargon
10 3.5

A quick attack where a team moves fast down the court to score before the defense sets up

break seal
  • Specialized
8 6.1

A seal that breaks when a package is opened to show if someone opened it

A solo street dance with fast acrobatic moves on the ground to hip-hop music

6 1.0

The first light of morning when the sun rises

3 3.6

A solo street dance with quick acrobatic moves often done to hip-hop music

2 1.3

A short informal break at work to drink tea or another drink

1 3.9

A short pause in an activity

The first light of morning when the sun begins to appear

1 4.3

An ending of a relationship or agreement, often sudden

1 4.5

Illegal access to a computer system to steal or damage data

service break
  • Jargon
1 5.1

A game the player who is not serving wins in tennis

bio-break
  • Informal
1 8.6

A short break to use the toilet or take care of personal needs

A short pause from work to move, stretch, or rest

1 4.1

A piece that has come away from a larger object, often suddenly

1 5.1

A game one player wins while the opponent is serving

1 3.7

A short pause to use the toilet or have a brief rest

9.9

A tree from the West Indies with very hard wood used for building

How Lucky

windfall
34 5.1
break
  • Informal
319 2.7
opportunity
∞ 2.0

Surface Forms

break singular
breaks plural

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.