break even
To neither gain nor lose money.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“We sold enough tickets to break even.”
“The small café struggled at first, but by summer it finally managed to break even.”
“After two years of losses, the fledgling company broke even in the third quarter, a milestone that brought cautious relief to its anxious investors.”
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all bedlam breaks loose
The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.
- 02
all hell breaks loose
The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.
- 03
big break
A breakthrough, especially the first big hit of a previously unknown performer or performers in the entertainment industry.
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break a leg
Good luck!; Do your best!; Said to someone wishing they perform well in a theatrical production or comparable endeavor.
- 05
break a sweat
To put effort into something.
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break cover
To disclose one's real thoughts and intentions.
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break down
To give in or give up: relent, concede, surrender.
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break gates
To enter an Oxford or Cambridge college enclosure after the hour to which a student has been restricted.
Last updated August 10, 2026