break one’s silence— 1. finally bring up a subject: Charlotte described the telephone call with which the kidnappers had broken their silence. 2. say smth. after a long pause in conversation: Enoch sat hunched and brooding, breaking his silence only to pass the time of day with John Biffen. break the silence— = break one’s […]
Difference between Break it down and Break it up
break it down— 1. explain smth.: Let me break it down for you—when a dog shows its teeth, it’s about to attack you. 2. (Austral., NZ sl.) stop it; come off it (used as an expression of disbelief, disagreement or a plea for moderation): Let’s break it down. I said I don’t know the man. […]
Difference between Break into a bank and Break the bank
break into a bank—get into a bank by using force (breaking a lock, window, etc.) with the intention to rob: Champ’s accomplice produces blueprints showing how they can break into the bank by digging a tunnel under the sweet shop. break the bank— 1. win all the money at a casino gambling table: He broke […]
Difference between Break even and Get an even break
break even—emerge from a transaction, etc. with balancing gains and losses; make neither profit nor loss: Today a novel needs to sell 5,000 copies for a publisher to break even. get an even break—(coll.) get an equal or fair chance; get the same opportunity as other people: Some guys never get an even break. Some […]
Difference between Break down and Break up
break down— 1. (of machinery) fail to operate: The car broke down on the way to the airport, and I had to take a taxi. 2. (of an attack, talks, etc.) fail; come to nothing: I expect the negotiations to break down soon. 3. suffer emotional disorder; lose control of oneself: The task before her […]
Difference between Break camp and Break out of camp
break camp—leave a camp or a camping-place: The daily routine will be to break camp after breakfast and load our equipment onto the boats. break out of camp—escape from a detention camp: The following day they tried to break out of camp and although unarmed they were shot down.
Difference between Break away, Break off and Break out
break away—come apart from smth.: The wing of the plane broke away in mid-air. break off— 1. = break away: The mast had broken off at its base, and lay over the side of the boat. 2. stop speaking: Jim was in the middle of a funny story when he broke off to answer the […]
Difference between Break an agreement and Break off an agreement
break an agreement—act in opposition to an agreement; violate an agreement: It was made clear that if Janet were to break this agreement the therapist would discontinue contact with her. break off an agreement—cancel or terminate an agreement: Tensions prevailed and things came to a point of no return when Lufthansa unilaterally broke off the […]
Difference between Break a fly upon the wheel and Fly on the wheel
break a fly upon the wheel—spend a great deal of effort upon smth. not worth it: To apply more elaborate criticism to them, would be “to break a fly upon the wheel.” fly on the wheel—a person who fancies himself of importance, but who is in reality of none at all: The world grinds on: […]
Difference between Breach of arrest and Breach of arrestment
breach of arrest—(Military legal) said of an arrested person going beyond the limits of arrest as set by orders: If, after such arrest, he commits a breach of arrest, an additional charge will properly be added in the case… breach of arrestment—(Scot., legal) illegal disposal of property placed under the control of a law-court: A […]
Difference between Brave it out and Put up a brave front
brave it out—deal with a frightening or upsetting situation in a brave way: Several were wading about in the water. Two were braving it out in swim-trunks. put up a brave front—make a pretence of courage and bravery: We know that Mary is frightened, but she is putting up a brave front.
Difference between Brass hat and Tin hat
brass hat—(coll.) 1. a senior officer in the armed forces: For two hours in late January, the brass hats of the Pentagon cloistered themselves with President Clinton. 2. any important or influential person: The trouble was that he was a curate, and the brass hats of the Church look askance at curates who swat parishioners. […]