break character

Meaning

This phrase means to stop acting or behaving like the character one is portraying, often by laughing, speaking in one's natural voice, or reacting as oneself. It is commonly used in theater, film, and comedy, but can also describe someone dropping a fake persona in real life.

Examples

• It was so funny when the actor broke character and started laughing during the live broadcast.

  It was so funny when the actor broke character and started laughing during the live broadcast.

• A professional method actor will rarely break character, even between takes.

  A professional method actor will rarely break character, even between takes.

• The comedian almost broke character when an audience member shouted something ridiculous.

  The comedian almost broke character when an audience member shouted something ridiculous.

• You could tell he was lying because he briefly broke character and smiled.

  You could tell he was lying because he briefly broke character and smiled.

• During the school play, Sarah broke character to wave at her parents in the audience.

  During the school play, Sarah broke character to wave at her parents in the audience.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The actor broke his character on stage.

  ✓ The actor broke character on stage.

  We do not usually use a possessive pronoun (like 'his' or 'her') with this idiom; it is simply 'break character'.

• ✗ He broke the character when he laughed.

  ✓ He broke character when he laughed.

  Do not use the definite article 'the' before 'character' in this fixed idiomatic expression.

Related Expressions

Practice

• It's hard for comedic actors not to ___ when their co-stars improvise.

  💡 Stop acting and show real emotion or laughter.

  Show answer

  break character

• Even under pressure, she refused to ___ and kept her serious face on.

  💡 Stop playing the role.

  Show answer

  break character