make or break

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Example

“This launch is make or break for the quarter.”

Dictionary details

Component words

make break

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

break ranks Neutral · CEFR B2

to openly depart from the shared position of one's own group

kiss and make up Neutral · CEFR B1

to reconcile and become friendly again after an argument

break cover Neutral · CEFR B2

to stop concealing one's true position or intentions and make them known

break even Neutral · CEFR B2

to reach the point where revenue equals costs — no profit, no loss

break new ground Neutral · CEFR B2

to do something that has never been done before; to pioneer

break the back of Neutral · CEFR B2

to get past the main obstacle so that the remaining work becomes easier

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

markdown