break

casser, se casser

Abîmer quelque chose au point de le briser, le fissurer ou le déformer ; subir ces dégâts.

En anglais simple : To damage something so it comes apart, cracks, or loses its proper shape.

• Be careful not to break the glass.
• She fell and broke her wrist.
• The plate broke into three pieces.

Comment l'utiliser : break something into something (She broke the chocolate into small pieces.); break something off something (He broke a branch off the tree.)

Synonymes : smash, fracture

Contraires : mend, repair

Expressions courantes : break a window, break something off, break into pieces

enfreindre, violer

Agir contre une règle ou une loi, ou ne pas tenir une promesse.

En anglais simple : To do something against a rule or law, or fail to do what you promised.

• Never break a promise.
• They broke the rules and lost their prize.
• You could go to prison for breaking the law.

Synonymes : violate, disobey

Contraires : obey, keep

Expressions courantes : break the law, break a promise, break the rules

tomber en panne

Cesser de fonctionner à cause d’un problème, pour une machine ou un objet.

En anglais simple : If a machine or object does this, it stops working because something is wrong.

• My phone will break if it gets wet.
• The washing machine broke yesterday.
• Our car broke down on the way home.

Synonymes : fail, stop working

Expressions courantes : break down, break again, break easily

dépasser, franchir

Dépasser une limite ou un record, ou traverser la surface de quelque chose.

En anglais simple : To go past a limit or record, or pass through the surface of something.

• She hopes to break the record.
• A whale broke the surface beside our boat.
• The aircraft broke the sound barrier.

Synonymes : surpass, exceed, penetrate

Expressions courantes : break a record, break the surface, break a barrier

s’échapper, se libérer

Quitter un lieu ou une situation où l’on était retenu.

En anglais simple : To escape from a place or situation where you were being held.

• The horse managed to break free.
• Three prisoners broke out last night.
• She broke away from the guards and ran.

Comment l'utiliser : break out of something (Two prisoners broke out of jail.); break free from someone/something (The dog broke free from its owner.)

Synonymes : escape, get away

Expressions courantes : break free, break out, break away

faire une pause

Arrêter brièvement une activité pour se reposer.

En anglais simple : To stop an activity for a short rest.

• Let’s break for lunch.
• The meeting broke for coffee at eleven.
• We usually break after the first two hours.

Comment l'utiliser : break for something (We will break for tea at four.)

Synonymes : pause, stop

Contraires : continue, resume

Expressions courantes : break for lunch, break for coffee, break briefly

pause

Court moment où l’on interrompt une activité, souvent pour se reposer.

En anglais simple : A short time when you stop an activity, often to rest.

• Let’s take a break.
• We get two short breaks each morning.
• Can I have a break from cleaning?

Comment l'utiliser : break from something (I need a break from studying.)

Synonymes : rest, pause

Expressions courantes : take a break, coffee break, break from something

vacances

Période de plusieurs jours ou semaines pendant laquelle les élèves n’ont pas cours.

En anglais simple : A period of days or weeks when students do not have classes.

• School closes for the winter break tomorrow.
• We visited our cousins during spring break.
• How long is your summer break?

Synonymes : holiday, vacation

Expressions courantes : spring break, winter break, school break