break off

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to abruptly end a relationship, engagement, or association. It is often used when one party decides to stop seeing the other or when an official agreement is canceled before completion. It carries a sense of suddenness or a clean, decisive split.

Examples

• They decided to break off their engagement after realizing they wanted different things.

  They decided to break off their engagement after realizing they wanted different things.

• She had to break off the conversation when her boss walked into the office.

  She had to break off the conversation when her boss walked into the office.

• After years of arguing, the two business partners finally broke off their relationship.

  After years of arguing, the two business partners finally broke off their relationship.

• It's hard to break off a long-term friendship, but sometimes it is necessary.

  It's hard to break off a long-term friendship, but sometimes it is necessary.

• He suddenly broke off mid-sentence and stared out the window.

  He suddenly broke off mid-sentence and stared out the window.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They broke off themselves last week.

  ✓ They broke up last week.

  'Break off' requires a direct object (like 'engagement' or 'relationship') when referring to people ending a relationship, unlike 'break up' which can be intransitive.

• ✗ She broke off with her boyfriend.

  ✓ She broke it off with her boyfriend.

  To use 'break off' with a person, you must use the pronoun 'it' as in 'break it off with [someone]'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After a long discussion, they decided to ___ their engagement.

  💡 end an agreement or relationship abruptly

  Show answer

  break off

• I had to ___ the phone call because someone was knocking at my door.

  💡 stop or interrupt suddenly

  Show answer

  break off