| 词组 | break |
| 释义 | break [broke, broken, breaking] break away 1. break away to stop being part a group, a political party, or a country, especially because of a disagreement or because you want to form another group, party, or country: ▪ In 1920, the majority of socialists broke away to form the Communist party. + from ▪ After thirty years of bitter civil war, Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia. ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑split off breakaway adj always before noun a breakaway group is one that has separated from a larger group: ▪ The Independent National Party was a breakaway group led by Colonel Johnson. breakaway n singular when someone or something stops being part of a group, because of a disagreement or in order to form another group: ▪ Webb helped to restructure the Football League, following the breakaway of the Premier League. 2. break away to suddenly move away from a person or group, often when they are holding you and trying to prevent you from going: ▪ Anna attempted to break away, but he held her tight. + from ▪ As soon as Harry saw her, he broke away from the group he was talking to and came over to greet her. 3. break away to do something different from what you usually do, or from what is usual or expected + from ▪ After the series ended, Glaser found it difficult to break away from his TV cop image. ▪ Societies have to break away from the traditions of the past in order to develop and grow. break down 1. break down if a vehicle or a machine breaks down, it stops working because there is something wrong with it: ▪ I don't believe it - the photocopier's broken down again! ▪ A truck broke down half way up the hill, causing a long line of traffic. ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑conk out informal breakdown n C when a vehicle stops working while you are travelling in it, because there is something wrong with it: ▪ That's the second breakdown we've had this month. broken-down adj always before noun a broken-down vehicle or machine is old and has stopped working: ▪ There was a broken-down car at the side of road, with smoke pouring out of it. 2. break down if a discussion, system, relationship etc breaks down, it fails because there are problems or disagreements: ▪ According to the statistics, two out of three marriages break down and end in divorce. ▪ Negotiations between the two governments broke down last year, when they were unable to reach an agreement. ■ SIMILAR TO: collapse breakdown n C,U when something fails because there are problems or disagreements: ▪ a breakdown in communication ▪ Marriage breakdown accounts for a large number of one-parent families. 3. break down to be unable to control yourself and start to cry, especially in front of other people break down in tears ▪ "You have to help me," O'Neil said, and he broke down in tears. 4. break down to become mentally ill because you cannot deal with all your problems or there is too much pressure on you: ▪ When her husband died, she broke down completely and had to be looked after by her son. ▪ You can't possibly work under this amount of pressure without breaking down in the end. ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑crack up informal (nervous) breakdown n C usually singular when you become mentally or physically ill because you cannot deal with all your problems or there is too much pressure on you have a breakdown ▪ Marty needs to relax more, or she'll end up having a nervous breakdown. 5. break down sth • break sth down to hit something such as a door or wall so hard that it breaks and falls to the ground: ▪ Police broke down the door and searched the building. ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑smash down 6. break down sth • break sth down to separate something into smaller parts so that you can deal with it or understand it more easily + into ▪ The project has been broken down into a series of tasks which can be carried out in stages. ▪ The best way to deal with all this information, is to break it down into categories. breakdown n C an explanation of the details of something, divided into different parts, especially about the cost of something: ▪ Can you give me a detailed breakdown of how much the whole thing would cost? 7. break down sth • break sth down to change someone's ideas or attitudes, especially when you thing that they are wrong or prevent you from making progress: ▪ We aim to break down racial prejudice through education and greater understanding of other cultures. ▪ She had hoped that she would eventually be able to break down his coldness, but he remained as distant as ever. ■ SIMILAR TO: overcome breakdown n C usually singular when an idea or tradition ends or is ended: ▪ the breakdown of traditional attitudes to work 8. break down sth • break sth down to get rid of something that prevents you from doing what you want, especially a situation or system that has existed for a long time break down barriers ▪ We must continue our efforts to break down the barriers that prevent our companies from competing freely in Europe. ▪ Modern telecommunications are breaking down the age-old barriers of time and distance. ■ SIMILAR TO: overcome 9. break down sth • break sth down • break down if a substance breaks down, or something breaks it down, it changes as a result of a chemical process: ▪ Bacteria break down the animal waste to form methane gas. + into ▪ Cabohydrates break down into sugar in the body. breakdown n singular when a substance changes as a result of a chemical process: ▪ This illness prevents the breakdown of certain proteins in the digestive system. break for break for sth AmE informal to suddenly run or drive somewhere, especially in order to escape from someone: ▪ Lambert fell as Morton broke for the corner of the field. break in 1. break in to get into a building illegally by using force, especially in order to steal something: ▪ Nearly two months ago, thieves broke in while she was asleep and took all her jewellery. break-in n C when people get into a building illegally by using force, especially in order to steal something: ▪ Five men were arrested after the break-in on Monday night. 2. break sb in • break in sb informal to make someone get used to doing a job or activity, especially by letting them do it a little and then gradually making them do it more: ▪ New trainees are usually broken in quite gently - we don't want to frighten them away! ▪ We'll do a short run today just to break you in, and then build it up over the next few weeks. 3. break in literary to suddenly say something when someone else is already talking, so that they cannot continue: ▪ "This is all very interesting," Ottley broke in, "but how do I know it's true?" ■ SIMILAR TO: interrupt 4. break sth in • break in sth to wear new shoes, boots etc for short periods of time until they become comfortable enough to wear all the time: ▪ I don't think I'll wear these shoes to work until I've broken them in at home first. 5. break in sth • break sth in to train a young horse to behave well and to allow people to ride it: ▪ David had bought the horse as a two-year-old, and broken her in himself. break in on/upon break in on sth/sb to interrupt what someone is doing, thinking, or saying, for example by suddenly entering the room or by starting to speak: ▪ "Well? Have you decided?" said Robbie, breaking in on her thoughts. ▪ Lee's voice broke in on the conversation. "They're here," he said. break into 1. break into sth to get into a building or a vehicle illegally by using force, especially in order to steal something: ▪ Someone broke into my car and stole the radio. ▪ Thieves broke into the school and took a quantity of cash. 2. break into sth to suddenly start doing something - used especially in the following phrases break into a smile/grin ▪ Manion read the letter and his face broke into a smile. break into laughter/applause ▪ The curtain came down and the audience broke into loud applause. break into tears/sobs ▪ We waited until his train was out of sight, and suddenly my mother broke into tears. break into a run ▪ Realizing that the man was following him, Steve broke into a run. break into a sweat ▪ The room was hot and crowded and I felt myself break into a sweat. break into song ▪ He had a marvellous voice, and would sometimes break into song while he was working. ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑burst into 3. break into sth to start to become involved in a new type of activity or business, especially when it is difficult to do this: ▪ Kevin had worked as an editor for ten years, and was now keen to break into management. break into a market ▪ The firm now wants to break into the US market. ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑get into, ↑move into 4. break into sth to use a computer to illegally get or change information that is on someone else's computer: ▪ Kyle Mitnick was arrested after breaking into computer networks in several states. ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑hack into 5. break into sth BrE to start to use money or food that you have been saving: ▪ In order to pay for their daughter's wedding, they had to break into their savings. ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑dip into 6. break into sth BrE to open a container of food or drink in order to eat or drink what is inside: ▪ What do you think about breaking into another bottle? ▪ We don't need to break into that packet - there's enough here. 7. break into sth BrE to pay for something using a piece of paper money because you do not have enough coins, especially a large note which you would prefer not to have to use: ▪ Let me get the drinks - you don't want to break into a fifty pound note. 8. break into sth literary to interrupt what someone is doing, thinking, or saying, for example by entering the room, or starting to speak: ▪ Hunter broke into their conversation. "It's David. He's been involved in some kind of accident." ▪ "You've become very silent," Piers said, breaking into her thoughts. ■ SIMILAR TO: disturb break off 1. break off • break off sth • break sth off if part of something breaks off, or you break it off, it becomes separated from the rest: ▪ One of the branches had broken off in the wind. ▪ Ben broke off a piece of the chocolate and ate it. ▪ It was a beautiful old jug, but the handle had broken off. 2. break off • break off sth • break sth off if talks between people, countries etc break off, or someone breaks them off, the talks stop suddenly before they have finished, especially because of a disagreement: ▪ Negotiations towards a new contract broke off again in the summer and the strike continued. ▪ Russian authorities broke off talks with the Chechen gunmen after they killed two hostages on Tuesday. 3. break off communication/contact/relations etc to refuse to communicate with a person or country any more, especially because of a disagreement: ▪ There had been an argument between the two brothers, and Ted had threatened to break off all communication. break off diplomatic relations ▪ The US broke of diplomatic relations with Cuba. 4. break off sth • break sth off if you break off a romantic or sexual relationship with someone, you end it break off an engagement ▪ Keith became jealous of Angie's other friends, and in the end he broke off their engagement. break it off ▪ I'd been having some problems with my boyfriend for some time, so I broke it off in the summer. 5. break off sth • break sth off • break off BrE if you break off something that you are doing, you stop doing it, especially suddenly: ▪ Kulikov had to break off his holiday and return to Moscow to handle the crisis. + from (doing) sth ▪ She broke off from writing as soon as he came into the room. 6. break off to suddenly stop speaking, especially before you have finished what you wanted to say: ▪ "I don't think ...," he broke off and smiled suddenly, seeing the expression on her face. break off with break off with sb BrE to end a romantic or sexual relationship with someone: ▪ She broke off with Peter last month. break out 1. break out if war, fighting, fire, or disease breaks out, it starts suddenly: ▪ In 1991 civil war broke out in Yugoslavia. ▪ Firemen fought for hours to control the fire, which had broken out on Wednesday night. ▪ Three prisoners were killed when fighting broke out in the jail. outbreak n C when war, fighting, fire, or disease suddenly starts + of ▪ In 1832 there was a serious outbreak of cholera in New York City. 2. break out to escape from a prison + of ▪ Two dangerous robbers had broken out of jail and murdered a police officer. break-out n C an escape from a prison: ▪ Prison security has been severely criticized following a series of break-outs in recent months. 3. break out if a noise such as laughter or shouting breaks out, it starts suddenly: ▪ As the crowd grew restless, angry shouting broke out. ▪ The concert ended and for a second there was silence before the applause broke out. 4. break out to change the way you live or behave, especially when it is the usual or accepted way, because you feel that it limits you too much and you need more freedom + of ▪ Both Matt and Angela wanted to break out of the traditional male and female roles. ▪ Until she found a job and broke out of the cycle of poverty, Maritza's life was very hard. break out of the mould/mold (=do something different form the usually accepted style) ▪ Groups like Blur are struggling to break out of the usual Britpop mould. 5. break out in spots/ a rash etc if your skin breaks out in spots, a lot of spots suddenly start to appear on you skin, especially because of illness: ▪ I woke up feeling terrible and found that I had broken out in hundreds of tiny red spots. ▪ My arms and legs had broken out in a rash. 6. spots/a rash etc breaks out if spots etc break out, they suddenly appear on your skin: ▪ Katy had a high temperature, and spots had broken out on her chest. 7. break out in a sweat to suddenly start to sweat (=lose liquid through your skin), because you are very hot, ill, or frightened: ▪ The snake came slowly closer and closer and I broke out in a sweat. 8. a smile/grin etc breaks out if a smile or grin breaks out on someone's face, they suddenly start to smile: ▪ As she read the letter, a smile broke out on her face. 9. break sth out • break out sth AmE informal to get something out and prepare to use it: ▪ Break out the cowboy boots and get ready to dance all night! break through 1. break through sth • break through to force your way through something, especially something that is blocking your way and stopping you moving forwards: ▪ On Friday two thousand striking workers broke through a police barricade in order to protest outside the presidential office. ▪ Owen broke through the Italian defence and scored a great goal. ▪ After hours of digging the rescue team finally broke through and were able to get the child out. 2. break through • break through sth if the sun or light breaks through, you can see it again after it has been hidden by clouds or mist: ▪ At that moment the sun broke through, and the whole field was covered in light. break through the clouds/mist ▪ By twelve o'clock it had stopped raining and the sun was just breaking through the clouds. 3. break through if the amount or number of something breaks through a particular level, it becomes higher than that level: ▪ After the election, the level of unemployment broke through the 3 million mark. ▪ The assets of the Newcastle Building Society have broken through the $I billion barrier this year. 4. break through sth • break through to find a way of dealing with a problem or a situation that limits what you or other people can do, especially one caused by people's behaviour or attitudes: ▪ Women are finally breaking through the barriers that have held them back for so long. breakthrough n C an important new discovery or development that helps you deal with or achieve something, especially when you have been trying for a long time: ▪ a major breakthrough in the fight against the disease ▪ The company's great breakthrough came when they won a big contract to produce steel for the American market. 5. break through literary if a quality, emotion etc breaks through, it begins to appear or be noticeable: ▪ When Carson answered, Alison was surprised to hear a trace of emotion breaking through. ▪ Even though the subject is a serious one, the writer's humour sometimes breaks through. break up 1. break up sth • break sth up • break up to break into smaller pieces or parts, or to make something break into smaller pieces or parts: ▪ There is a real possibility that the ice caps at the North and South Poles will start breaking up and melting. ▪ Can you break up some of these sticks? They' re too big to start a fire with. + into ▪ Oil floats on the top of the water and then breaks up into drops. break-up n C when something breaks into smaller pieces or parts: ▪ Accident investigators are still not sure what caused the break-up of the plane. 2. break up • break up sth • break sth up if a marriage breaks up, or if someone or something breaks it up, it ends: ▪ Simon went to live in London when his marriage broke up, and only saw his children at weekends. ▪ She actually accused me of trying to break up her marriage! break-up n C when a marriage or sexual relationship ends: ▪ It took her years to get over the break-up of her marriage. break up if two people who are married or having a sexual relationship break up, they separate and the marriage or relationship ends: ▪ We'd been together for three years before we broke up, so it was really hard. + with ▪ Did you know that Pat's broken up with John? ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑split up 3. break up sth • break sth up if someone breaks up a fight, protest, etc, they stop it, especially by using force: ▪ Ten people were injured in the fighting, which was eventually broken up by security forces. break up a demonstration ▪ Police used tear gas to break up the demonstration, 4. break up BrE if schools, universities, or students break up, their classes end and the holidays begin: ▪ Some schools have already broken up, but we've got another week. + for ▪ What date do you break up for the summer holidays? ■ OPPOSITE: go back 5. break up • break up sth • break sth up if a meeting, party etc breaks up, or someone breaks it up, it ends and the people leave: ▪ It was around six in the morning when the party finally broke up. ▪ The meeting broke up and we still hadn't reached an agreement. ▪ I didn't want to break the evening up by leaving too early. 6. break up • break up sth • break sth up if an organization, country etc breaks up or is broken up, it is divided into several separate parts: ▪ Since the Soviet Union broke up, Belarus has had a hard time economically. ▪ One way of creating more competition would be to break up and sell off the big state-owned companies. ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑split up break-up n C when an organization, country etc is divided into several separate parts + of ▪ the break-up of Yugoslavia + into ▪ the break-up of Aeroflot into several small airline companies 7. break up • break up sth • break sth up if a group of people who live or work together break up or something breaks them up, they separate and stop living or working together: ▪ One of the things that causes families to break up is financial pressure. ▪ The group had recorded ten albums before they decided to break up. ▪ What do you think finally broke up the Beatles? ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑split up break-up n C when a group of people who live or work together separate: ▪ a family break-up ▪ the break-up of the band 8. break up sth • break sth up to make something such as a journey seem less long and boring, by doing something different in the middle of it: ▪ We stopped off in Cambridge in order to break up the journey. 9. break sth up • break up sth if you break up something that is all the same colour, shape, or pattern, you make it look more interesting by adding new colours, shapes etc: ▪ The huge lawns at Barnsley House are broken up by the clever planting of shrubs and trees. 10. break it up! spoken used to tell two or more people who are fighting to stop fighting: ▪ Break it up, you two, or you'll hurt each other! 11. break sb up informal, especially AmE if something breaks you up, it is so funny that you cannot stop laughing at it: ▪ Ethan really broke me up with that story about the alligator. ■ SIMILAR TO: ↑crack up break with 1. break with sth/sb to stop being part of a particular group of people or an organization, or to stop supporting someone, especially because you do not agree with their ideas any more: ▪ In the early 80s, Shirley Williams and David Owen broke with the Labour Party and formed their own Alliance Party. + over ▪ Some Democrats have broken with Clinton over this issue. 2. break with sb/sth to end a relationship with someone, especially because you have had a disagreement with them: ▪ Freddie broke with his family long ago, after his mother died. 3. break with tradition/the past etc to stop doing things in the way they were done in the past, and do them in a completely different way: ▪ In 1940 Roosevelt broke with tradition and stood for a third term of office. ▪ The new Sultan wanted to modernize his country, but he didn't want to break with the past completely. |
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