break off

interrompere, troncare

Fermare all’improvviso un’attività o porre fine a un rapporto o un accordo.

In inglese semplice: To suddenly stop an activity or end a relationship or agreement.

• They broke off the talks.
• She broke off her engagement last month.
• Why did you break off contact with your cousin?

Come si usa: break off something with someone (They broke off negotiations with the supplier.); break something off (She decided to break it off.)

Sinonimi: end, terminate, discontinue

Contrari: continue, resume

Espressioni comuni: break off talks, break off an engagement, break off contact

staccare, spezzare

Separare un pezzo da qualcosa piegandolo o colpendolo fino a romperlo.

In inglese semplice: To separate a piece from something by bending or hitting it until it breaks.

• Break off some chocolate.
• She broke a twig off the branch.
• Can you break off a smaller piece for me?

Come si usa: break something off something (She broke a small branch off the tree.); break off something (He broke off a piece of bread.)

Sinonimi: snap off

Espressioni comuni: break off a piece, break off a branch, break something off

staccarsi, spezzarsi

Separarsi dal resto di un oggetto rompendosi.

In inglese semplice: If a piece does this, it separates from something because it breaks.

• The handle broke off.
• A branch broke off during the storm.
• Did that piece break off from the roof?

Come si usa: break off from something (A large piece of ice broke off from the glacier.)

Sinonimi: snap off

Espressioni comuni: break off suddenly, break off completely

interrompersi, cessare

Interrompersi bruscamente, riferito a un’attività, magari solo per poco tempo.

In inglese semplice: If an activity does this, it stops suddenly, perhaps only for a short time.

• The conversation broke off suddenly.
• She broke off when the door opened.
• Their discussion broke off for lunch and continued later.

Come si usa: break off in the middle of something (He broke off in the middle of his explanation.)

Sinonimi: stop, cease

Contrari: continue, resume

Espressioni comuni: break off suddenly, break off mid-sentence

effettuare la spaccata

Fare il primo tiro in una partita di snooker, pool o biliardo.

In inglese semplice: To take the first shot in a game of snooker, pool, or billiards.

• You can break off first.
• She broke off at the start of the final frame.
• Who will break off in the next game of pool?

Sinonimi: break

Espressioni comuni: break off first, break off in snooker

dare una parte, spartire

Dare a qualcuno una parte di ciò che si ha, soprattutto del denaro guadagnato.

In inglese semplice: To give someone some of what you have, especially money you have earned.

• Break me off a little cash.
• She broke her brother off a share of the winnings.
• Will you break me off something if the deal succeeds?

Come si usa: break someone off something (He promised to break me off a share of the profit.)

Sinonimi: give, share

Espressioni comuni: break someone off something, break off a share