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break

break

443 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
547 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
38 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
13 3.2

A sudden chance that helps you succeed

emphasizes the chance as an opportunity leading to practical success
stroke of luck
vsbreak
8 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
3.9

A lucky unexpected event that brings something good

expresses a useful unexpected opportunity rather than merely an accident

Antonyms

557 1.3

Not reaching what was planned or expected

75 3.7

A bad event that causes trouble

Idioms

to make or break
  • Informal
26 4.5

Decide whether something is a complete success or failure

give me a break
  • Informal
22 7.9

Ask someone to stop criticizing or asking too much of you

to break a sweat
  • Informal
20 4.1

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

to break a leg
  • Informal
15 6.3

To wish someone good luck before a performance

To cost a lot of money

To make a sound or speak after a time of silence

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

To stop poverty passing from parents to children

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

1 7.9

A sudden time when many people lose control and chaos starts

1 5.4

Cause a huge rise in online attention and internet traffic

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 break the buck
  • Literature
9.8

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

To do new or difficult things on purpose to learn and grow

To tease or nag someone in a way that annoys them

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

tax break
  • Specialized
98 3.0

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

83 3.9

An illegal entry into a building to steal or damage things

81 2.0

A short vacation from school in spring, usually one week

big break
  • Informal
38 3.2

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

20 1.0

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

tough break
  • Informal
19 5.8

An unlucky event that makes things harder for someone

lucky break
  • Informal
13 3.2

A sudden chance that helps you succeed

13 1.2

A short pause to use the toilet

clean break
  • Informal
12 3.9

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

10 1.0

A holiday when schools and universities close for winter

fast break
  • Jargon
9 3.5

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

4 1.0

The first light of morning when the sun rises

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

1 3.6

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

1 1.3

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

1 4.5

Illegal access to a computer system to steal or damage data

bio-break
  • Informal
1 8.6

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

The first light of morning when the sun begins to appear

5.1

A game one player wins while the opponent is serving

break seal
  • Specialized
6.1

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

9.9

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

4.1

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

3.9

A short pause in an activity

4.3

An ending of a relationship or agreement, often sudden

3.7

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

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

service break
  • Jargon
5.1

A game the player who is not serving wins in tennis

How Lucky

windfall
35 5.1
break
  • Informal
443 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.