# make a break for it

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/make-a-break-for-it
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To attempt to escape; to flee; to run away.

## Examples

- The dog saw the open gate and made a break for it.
- When the guard turned his head, the prisoner decided to make a break for it toward the exit.
- Realizing that the authorities were closing in, the fugitive waited for the cover of darkness to make a break for it across the border.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.