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[break up]{v. phr.} To end a romantic relationship, a marriage, or a business partnership. •/Tom and Jane broke up because Tom played so much golf that he had no time for her./

[break up]{v.} 1. To break into pieces. •/The workmen broke up the pavement to dig up the pipes under it./ •/River ice breaks up in the spring./ 2. {informal} To lose or destroy spirit or self-control. — Usually used in the passive. •/Mrs. Lawrence was all broken up after her daughter’s death, and did not go out of the house for two months./ Compare: CRACK UP, GO TO PIECES. 3. To come or to put to an end, especially by separation; separate. •/Some men kept interrupting the speakers, and finally broke up the meeting./ •/The party broke up at midnight./ — Often used in the informal phrase "break it up". •/The boys were fighting, and a passing policeman ordered them to break it up./ Compare: CUT OUT(1). 4. {informal} To stop being friends. •/Mary and June were good friends and did everything together, but then they had a quarrel and broke up/ Compare: BREAK OFF.

[break-up]{n.} The end of a relationship, personal or commercial. •/The break-up finally occurred when Smith and Brown decided to sue each other for embezzlement./

[break with]{v.} To separate yourself from; end membership in; stop friendly association with. •/He broke with the Democratic party on the question of civil rights./ •/He had broken with some friends who had changed in their ideas./

[breast] See: MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF.

[breath] See: CATCH ONE’S BREATH, DRAW A LONG BREATH or TAKE A LONG BREATH, HOLD ONE’S BREATH, IN THE SAME BREATH, OUT OF BREATH, SAVE ONE’S BREATH, SECOND WIND also SECOND BREATH, TAKE ONE’S BREATH AWAY, UNDER ONE’S BREATH, WASTE ONE’S BREATH.

[breathe down one’s neck]{v. phr.}, {informal} To follow closely; threaten from behind; watch every action. •/Too many creditors were breathing down his neck./ •/The carpenter didn’t like to work for Mr. Jones, who was always breathing down his neck./

[breathe easily] or [breathe freely] {v.} To have relief from difficulty or worry; relax; feel that trouble is gone; stop worrying. •/Now that the big bills were paid, he breathed more easily./ •/His mother didn’t breathe easily until he got home that night./

[breathe one’s last]{v. phr.} To die. •/The wounded soldier fell back on the ground and breathed his last./

[bred in the bone]{adj. phr.} Belonging to your nature or character, especially from early teaching or long habit; natural from belief or habit; believing deeply. •/The Willett children’s cleanness is bred in the none./ Often used, with hyphens before the noun. •/Joe is a bred-in-the-bone horseman; he has been riding since he was six./ Contrast: SKIN-DEEP.

[breeches] See: TOO BIG FOR ONE’S BREECHES.

[breeze] See: SHOOT THE BREEZE or BAT THE BREEZE or FAN THE BREEZE, WIN IN A WALK or WIN IN A BREEZE.

[breeze in]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To walk into a place casually (like a soft blowing wind). •/Betsie breezed in and sat down at the bar./