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break off
verb
to sever or detach or be severed or detached
it broke off in my hands
he broke a piece off the bar of chocolate
(adverb) to end (a relationship, association, etc) or (of a relationship, etc) to be ended
(intr, adverb) to stop abruptly; halt
he broke off in the middle of his speech
noun
the act or an instance of breaking off or stopping
Idioms and Phrases
Stop abruptly, as in The trade talks broke off yesterday . [First half of 1300s]
Separate, sever a connection, as in The baby broke off the tops of all the flowers , or The new sect has broken off from the established church . [First half of 1500s]
End a relationship or friendship, as in Mary broke off her engagement to Rob . [Mid-1600s]
Example Sentences
The Galleri test, made by American pharmaceutical firm Grail, can detect fragments of cancerous DNA that have broken off a tumour and are circulating in the blood.
As many trees are still in full leaf, they are more likely to be toppled with branches broken off than during the winter when the wind can whistle through them unimpeded.
Taylor broke off a run for an apparent 53-yard touchdown, but a holding penalty nullified the play.
Seven charities have cut ties with Sarah Ferguson since the email - in which she also appeared to apologise for her public criticism of Epstein after claiming to have broken off contact - emerged last Sunday.
They said Leviev would later pretend he was being pursued by his "enemies" and ask them to transfer him significant sums of money, before breaking off all contact.
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