# break off

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/break-off
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to snap a piece off

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to separate a small piece from a larger object by breaking it.

For teachers: to remove a part from a whole by snapping or fracturing. The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

- She broke off a square of chocolate and gave it to her friend.
- The climber accidentally broke off a loose piece of shale, watching it tumble down the cliff face into the valley below.

Usage: Often used with 'a piece of' or 'a bit of'.

### 2. to stop talking suddenly

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to stop speaking in the middle of a sentence.

For teachers: to cease speaking or performing an action abruptly, often due to an interruption or sudden thought. Intransitive in this sense.

- He started to explain the plan but broke off when the manager entered the room.
- The lecturer broke off in mid-sentence to address a student who was repeatedly whispering in the back row.

Usage: Commonly used with 'in mid-sentence' or 'abruptly'.

### 3. to end a relationship

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to end a relationship, an engagement, or a formal agreement.

For teachers: to terminate a personal or political relationship, such as an engagement or diplomatic ties. Transitive; usually takes an abstract noun as an object.

- The two countries decided to break off diplomatic relations after the border dispute.
- After months of arguing, the couple finally decided to break off their engagement just weeks before the wedding.

Usage: Commonly collocates with 'engagement', 'negotiations', or 'relations'.

### 4. to start a game of pool

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to take the first shot in a game of pool or snooker.

For teachers: to play the opening shot in a frame of snooker, billiards, or pool to disperse the balls.

- It is your turn to break off in this round of pool.
- The champion chose to break off with a safety shot, leaving the cue ball tight against the baulk cushion.

Usage: Usually used intransitively in a sporting context.

## Examples

- They decided to break off their engagement.
- She was telling a story but had to break off when the phone rang.
- The diplomatic mission chose to break off negotiations after the latest round of talks failed to produce a viable compromise.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: distinguish between the literal sense (snapping a piece of chocolate) and the figurative sense (ending a relationship); the figurative sense is common in news and formal contexts.

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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.