break a promise

Meaning

This expression means to fail to do something that you swore, vowed, or agreed to do. It carries a negative connotation of untrustworthiness or disappointment and is the direct opposite of "keep a promise."

Examples

• If you break a promise, people will struggle to trust you again.

  If you break a promise, people will struggle to trust you again.

• I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your game; I hate to break a promise.

  I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your game; I hate to break a promise.

• She promised to help me move, but she broke her promise at the last minute.

  She promised to help me move, but she broke her promise at the last minute.

• A true friend would never break a promise unless it was an absolute emergency.

  A true friend would never break a promise unless it was an absolute emergency.

• He felt terrible after breaking a promise he made to his daughter.

  He felt terrible after breaking a promise he made to his daughter.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He damaged his promise to his best friend.

  ✓ He broke his promise to his best friend.

  Use the verb "break" (not "damage" or "destroy") when referring to failing to keep a commitment.

• ✗ I don't like to break promises with my children.

  ✓ I don't like to break promises to my children.

  We make or break promises "to" someone, not "with" them.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Once you ___, it is very hard to rebuild that level of trust.

  💡 Fail to do what you said you would do.

  Show answer

  break a promise

• I gave you my word, and I am not going to ___.

  💡 Go back on my word.

  Show answer

  break my promise