break off

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Definition

  1. Verb (Transitive):

    • To separate a piece from a whole by force or snapping.
    • To stop or end something, such as an activity, discussion, or relationship, suddenly or before its planned conclusion.

  2. Verb (Intransitive):

    • To become detached or separated from a whole.
    • To stop speaking or acting suddenly.
Usage and Examples

  • Verb (Transitive - to separate):

    • He broke off a piece of chocolate and gave it to me.
    • The storm broke off several large branches from the tree.

  • Verb (Transitive - to stop/end):

    • The two countries decided to break off diplomatic relations.
    • They agreed to break off the negotiations until next week.

  • Verb (Intransitive - to become detached):

    • The handle broke off in my hand.
    • A large section of the glacier broke off and fell into the sea.

  • Verb (Intransitive - to stop suddenly):

    • She suddenly broke off in the middle of her sentence.
    • He broke off when he saw the expression on my face.
Advanced Usage

  • "to break off contact/communication": To deliberately stop communicating with someone.

    • After the argument, she broke off all contact with her former friend.

  • "to break off an engagement": To end an agreement to be married.

    • They sadly decided to break off their engagement.
Variants and Related Words

  • Breakoff (noun): An instance of stopping or ending something.

    • The breakoff of talks was a major setback.

  • Broken-off (adjective): Describing something that has been separated.

    • He picked up the broken-off piece of the statue.
Synonyms
  • Snap off / Chip off: (for separating a piece).
  • Discontinue / Suspend / Terminate: (for stopping an activity).
  • Abruptly stop / Cease: (for stopping speaking or acting).
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Break away: To escape or detach, often from a group.
  • Break up: To end a relationship or to separate into pieces.
Related Idioms
  • To break it off: An informal way to say "to end a romantic relationship."
    • After two years of dating, Jane decided to break it off.
Verb
  1. break a small piece off from
    • chip the glass
    • chip a tooth
  2. break a piece from a whole
    • break a branch from a tree
  3. break off (a piece from a whole)
    • Her tooth chipped
  4. prevent completion
    • stop the project
    • break off the negotiations
  5. interrupt before its natural or planned end
    • We had to cut short our vacation

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