Expression Cards
803 cards available.
phrasal-verb
break out of
Meaning
to free yourself from a negative emotional state
Example
He finally **broke out of** his depression after therapy.
phrasal-verb
break out of comfort zone
Meaning
to do something that is new or challenging for personal growth
Example
To grow as a person, you must **break out of your comfort zone**.
phrasal-verb
break out of insecurity
Meaning
to free yourself from self-doubt and lack of confidence
Example
She finally **broke out of insecurity** and started speaking publicly.
phrasal-verb
break past
Meaning
to overcome a barrier or limit; to move beyond something difficult
Example
You have to **break past** your fears to achieve real success.
phrasal-verb
break past fear
Meaning
to overcome fear and take courageous action
Example
You can only grow when you **break past fear** and take risks.
idiom
break someone’s heart
Meaning
to make someone very sad
Example
It really **broke his heart** when she left him.
idiom
break the bank
Meaning
to cost too much; to use up all your money
Example
Buying that car will **break the bank**.
idiom
break the chains
Meaning
to free oneself from restrictions or limitations
Example
She wanted to **break the chains** of social expectations.
idiom
break the clutter
Meaning
to stand out in a crowded or competitive market
Example
A good tagline can help a brand **break the clutter**.
idiom
break the deadlock
Meaning
to end a situation in which progress is not possible
Example
They finally managed to **break the deadlock** through discussion.
idiom
break the fourth wall
Meaning
to address the audience directly in a play or film
Example
The actor **broke the fourth wall** to make the scene funnier.
idiom
break the glass ceiling
Meaning
to overcome a barrier or limitation, particularly in career or personal advancement
Example
She was the first woman in the company to **break the glass ceiling** and become a senior manager.
idiom
break the ice
Meaning
to start a friendly conversation in an awkward situation
Example
To **break the ice**, I told a funny story.
idiom
break the internet
Meaning
to cause an enormous amount of attention and discussion online
Example
The celebrity's new photo **broke the internet**.
idiom
break the law
Meaning
to commit an illegal act
Example
Anyone who **breaks the law** should be punished.
idiom
break the mold
Meaning
to do something differently from tradition
Example
She **broke the mold** by becoming the first female CEO.
idiom
Break the news
Meaning
To tell someone important or bad news.
Example
He didn’t know how to **break the news** to his parents.
idiom
break the problem down
Meaning
to divide a complex problem into smaller, more manageable parts
Example
Let's **break the problem down** into smaller steps.
idiom
break the silence
Meaning
to start talking after a period of silence
Example
He was the one to **break the silence** after the awkward pause.
phrasal-verb
break through
Meaning
to overcome a barrier or limitation; to achieve personal progress
Example
He managed to **break through** his emotional walls and trust people again.
phrasal-verb
break through barriers
Meaning
to overcome difficulties or obstacles
Example
She **broke through barriers** to become a successful engineer.
phrasal-verb
break through bias
Meaning
to overcome prejudices and unfair judgments
Example
Training programs help employees **break through bias** in hiring decisions.
phrasal-verb
break through fear
Meaning
to overcome strong emotional barriers like fear or anxiety
Example
He finally **broke through his fear** and spoke in public.
phrasal-verb
break through pain
Meaning
to overcome emotional suffering or struggle
Example
She managed to **break through pain** and start a new chapter in life.