Explanation of "Break With"
Definition: The phrase "break with" means to end a relationship or association with someone or something. It can refer to personal relationships, friendships, or even political or business connections.
Usage Instructions:
Examples:
Personal Relationship: "After years of disagreement, she decided to break with her old friends."
Political Context: "The country broke with its ally to pursue a different foreign policy."
Advanced Usage:
Word Variants:
Break: The base verb form.
Breaking: The present participle, used in continuous tenses (e.g., "They are breaking with tradition.").
Broke: The past tense form (e.g., "She broke with her past.").
Different Meanings:
While the primary meaning is to end a relationship, "break with" can also suggest: - Ideological separation: Choosing to adopt a different belief or practice (e.g., "He broke with the conventional views of his field."). - Ending an agreement: Stopping a formal arrangement (e.g., "The company broke with its suppliers over contract disputes.").
Synonyms:
End a relationship
Separate from
Part ways with
Disconnect from
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
Part ways: This is similar to "break with" and means to stop being together or to end a relationship. For example, "They decided to part ways after years of collaboration."
Cut ties: This idiom is used to indicate ending a relationship decisively or completely, often used in more serious contexts (e.g., "It was difficult for her to cut ties with her former partner.").
Summary:
"Break with" is a useful phrase in English that describes ending relationships or associations.