The phrasal verb "break for" primarily appears in informal contexts, particularly in spoken English. It is often used in the context of someone suddenly moving toward something with intent, such as "break for the door" or "break for the exit," indicating a sudden or urgent need to leave. It can denote a spontaneous action, sometimes during moments of excitement, fear, or urgency. "Break for" is frequently found in narrative and descriptive contexts, like storytelling or in depicting scenes in literature or film, where there's a quick transition from a stationary posture to motion. Additionally, the term can appear in sports commentary, especially in fast-paced scenarios where a player might "break for" a vital play or position. Less common in formal writing, it remains prevalent in everyday conversation and various forms of media narrative to add dramatic effect or convey immediacy.
B1
PreIntermediate
1. To stop temporarily from an activity or task to rest or take a short pause.
Let's break for lunch and continue the meeting in an hour.
The workers decided to break for a coffee before finishing the project.
2. To leave or depart, usually quickly, toward a place or destination.
Once the rain started, everyone broke for shelter.
As soon as the bell rang, the students broke for home.