break off

verb

1. to sever or detach or be severed or detached

   it broke off in my hands

   he broke a piece off the bar of chocolate

2. (adverb) to end (a relationship, association, etc) or (of a relationship, etc) to be ended

3. (intr, adverb) to stop abruptly; halt

   he broke off in the middle of his speech

noun

1. the act or an instance of breaking off or stopping

Idioms and Phrases

Stop abruptly, as in The trade talks broke off yesterday . [First half of 1300s]

Separate, sever a connection, as in The baby broke off the tops of all the flowers , or The new sect has broken off from the established church . [First half of 1500s]

End a relationship or friendship, as in Mary broke off her engagement to Rob . [Mid-1600s]

Example Sentences

The Blue Jays had initially broken off talks with Guerrero in spring training and were preparing to bid for his services in free agency this winter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Quietly, she broke off a dead branch from the tree trunk.

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Then, fearing a loss of autonomy, she broke off the engagement.

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"Once a piece has completely broken off, it no longer produces earthquakes because the rocks aren't stuck together anymore," Shuck explained.

Read more on Science Daily

Experts say 841 could have chewed off her tag, or it could have broken off on its own.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cease 
• discontinue 
• halt 
• suspend 
• terminate