break bread

Idioms  

1. Have a meal, eat. For example, It's hard to remain enemies when you've broken bread together. This term occurs in numerous places in the New Testament, where it sometimes means to share bread and other times to distribute food to others. In later usage it came to refer to the sacramental bread of Communion in Christian services. The latter survives in the spiritual hymn, “Let Us Break Bread Together.” [1300s]

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Example Sentences

“It was clear he had mastered how to build ties and create an atmosphere where people could break bread together and felt like they were getting access to him,” Stroul said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

We all have drinks before enjoying a meal and I bake bread for every guest to open up the conversation and literally break bread over conversations.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2024

Indeed, there’s seemingly no one with whom Khanna won’t break bread or, should things have gone sour, patch things up.

From Slate • Jun. 20, 2024

Because I break bread with and claim to be part of this marked construct, this otherness, complete with jail time within the carceral state, allow me to enlighten you.

From Salon • Jan. 1, 2024

“I could scarcely have missed an opportunity to break bread with you, Ripred,” said Solovet.

From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins