break

romper, romperse

Dañar algo hasta que se parte, se agrieta o pierde su forma; sufrir ese daño.

En inglés sencillo: To damage something so it comes apart, cracks, or loses its proper shape.

• Be careful not to break the glass.
• She fell and broke her wrist.
• The plate broke into three pieces.

Cómo se usa: break something into something (She broke the chocolate into small pieces.); break something off something (He broke a branch off the tree.)

Sinónimos: smash, fracture

Antónimos: mend, repair

Expresiones frecuentes: break a window, break something off, break into pieces

incumplir, infringir

Actuar contra una norma o ley, o no cumplir una promesa.

En inglés sencillo: To do something against a rule or law, or fail to do what you promised.

• Never break a promise.
• They broke the rules and lost their prize.
• You could go to prison for breaking the law.

Sinónimos: violate, disobey

Antónimos: obey, keep

Expresiones frecuentes: break the law, break a promise, break the rules

averiarse, estropearse

Dejar de funcionar una máquina o un objeto porque algo falla.

En inglés sencillo: If a machine or object does this, it stops working because something is wrong.

• My phone will break if it gets wet.
• The washing machine broke yesterday.
• Our car broke down on the way home.

Sinónimos: fail, stop working

Expresiones frecuentes: break down, break again, break easily

superar, romper

Sobrepasar un límite o un récord, o atravesar la superficie de algo.

En inglés sencillo: To go past a limit or record, or pass through the surface of something.

• She hopes to break the record.
• A whale broke the surface beside our boat.
• The aircraft broke the sound barrier.

Sinónimos: surpass, exceed, penetrate

Expresiones frecuentes: break a record, break the surface, break a barrier

escapar, liberarse

Salir de un lugar o una situación donde te retenían.

En inglés sencillo: To escape from a place or situation where you were being held.

• The horse managed to break free.
• Three prisoners broke out last night.
• She broke away from the guards and ran.

Cómo se usa: break out of something (Two prisoners broke out of jail.); break free from someone/something (The dog broke free from its owner.)

Sinónimos: escape, get away

Expresiones frecuentes: break free, break out, break away

hacer una pausa

Interrumpir una actividad un momento para descansar.

En inglés sencillo: To stop an activity for a short rest.

• Let’s break for lunch.
• The meeting broke for coffee at eleven.
• We usually break after the first two hours.

Cómo se usa: break for something (We will break for tea at four.)

Sinónimos: pause, stop

Antónimos: continue, resume

Expresiones frecuentes: break for lunch, break for coffee, break briefly

descanso, pausa

Tiempo corto en que dejas una actividad, normalmente para descansar.

En inglés sencillo: A short time when you stop an activity, often to rest.

• Let’s take a break.
• We get two short breaks each morning.
• Can I have a break from cleaning?

Cómo se usa: break from something (I need a break from studying.)

Sinónimos: rest, pause

Expresiones frecuentes: take a break, coffee break, break from something

vacaciones

Periodo de varios días o semanas en que los estudiantes no tienen clases.

En inglés sencillo: A period of days or weeks when students do not have classes.

• School closes for the winter break tomorrow.
• We visited our cousins during spring break.
• How long is your summer break?

Sinónimos: holiday, vacation

Expresiones frecuentes: spring break, winter break, school break