| Idiom | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Break one’s silence | 1. To finally address a topic that has been avoided. 2. To speak after a period of quiet or contemplation. | After days of pondering the issue, Emma decided it was time to break her silence and voice her opinion. |
| Break the silence | To interrupt a quiet moment with speech or sound, often after a significant pause. | The tension in the room was palpable until Mark finally broke the silence with a light-hearted joke. |
| Break something away | To separate or remove something by force. | The gardener had to break away the dead branches to encourage new growth in the tree. |
| Break something off | 1. To detach a piece from a larger object. 2. To terminate a relationship or agreement abruptly. | She decided to break off the friendship when she realised it was toxic to her well-being. |
| Break something out | 1. To forcefully open or remove something. 2. To unveil or introduce something new. | They had to break the window out to escape from the burning building. |
| Break something down | 1. To reduce something into smaller parts or pieces. 2. To overcome resistance or challenges. | The team leader broke down the project into manageable tasks to ensure everyone could contribute effectively. |
| Break something up | 1. To divide something into smaller components. 2. To disband a group or organisation. | The teacher had to break up the fight between two students in the playground. |
| Break the Queen’s English | To speak English in a grammatically incorrect or unrefined manner, often due to inexperience. | At the international conference, he accidentally broke the Queen’s English when he mixed up his tenses. |
| Clip the Queen’s English | To speak hurriedly or indistinctly, often under the influence of alcohol. | After a few too many drinks, he began to clip the Queen’s English, making it hard for anyone to understand him. |
| Break the wind | To create a natural barrier that protects against wind. | The high hedges break the wind and create a sheltered area for the garden. |
| Break wind | A euphemism for passing gas or releasing intestinal air. | It’s always embarrassing when someone breaks wind during a serious meeting. |
| Idiom | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Break time | A scheduled pause during work or school for rest or meals. | The teacher announced a break time after the first hour of lessons, allowing the students to recharge. |
| Broken time | The amount of work time lost due to interruptions or delays. | Employees were frustrated with their paychecks reflecting broken time because of the recent system outages. |
| Breakdown car | A vehicle specifically designed to assist in transporting non-operational cars. | The garage has a reliable breakdown car on standby for emergencies, ensuring help arrives quickly. |
| Broken-down car | A vehicle that is inoperable due to mechanical issues. | On our road trip, we passed a broken-down car by the side of the highway, its hood propped open in despair. |
| Bridal banquet | A celebratory meal or feast held in honour of a wedding. | The bridal banquet was filled with laughter and joy as family and friends toasted to the newlyweds. |
| Bridal party | The group of individuals who support and accompany the bride on her wedding day. | The bridal party spent the morning getting ready together, sharing memories and excitement for the big day. |
| Bright as a button | Describing someone, usually a child, as intelligent and perceptive. | Young Timmy solved the puzzle in no time; he’s bright as a button! |
| Bright as a new pin | Referring to something that is very clean and well-maintained. | After the renovations, the office looked as bright as a new pin, ready to impress clients. |
| Bright in the eye | A colloquial term for someone who appears slightly intoxicated. | After the party, Jane was a bit bright in the eye, laughing a little too loudly at the jokes. |
| Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed | Describing someone as lively, enthusiastic, and full of energy. | After a good night’s sleep, Mark arrived at the meeting bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to tackle the day. |
| Bring down the curtain on something | To conclude or terminate an event or activity. | The director decided it was time to bring down the curtain on the play after its successful run. |
| Draw the curtain on something | To stop discussing a particular topic or keep certain information private. | I prefer to draw the curtain on that conversation; it’s better left in the past. |
| Bring home the bacon | To earn a living or provide financial support for a family. | As the primary breadwinner, Jake worked hard to bring home the bacon for his family. |
| Bring home the silver | To achieve second place in a competition or contest. | Despite a tough match, the team was proud to bring home the silver medal from the championship. |
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