break-even

or break·e·ven

[breyk-ee-vuh n]

adjective

having income exactly equal to expenditure, thus showing neither profit nor loss.

noun

break-even point.
Energy. the stage at which a fission or fusion reaction becomes self-sustaining.

Origin of break-even

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

break

[breyk]

verb (used with object), broke or (Archaic) brake; bro·ken or (Archaic) broke; break·ing.

to smash, split, or divide into parts violently; reduce to pieces or fragments: He broke a vase.
to infringe, ignore, or act contrary to (a law, rule, promise, etc.): She broke her promise.
to dissolve or annul (often followed by off): to break off friendly relations with another country.
to fracture a bone of (some part of the body): He broke his leg.
to lacerate; wound: to break the skin.
to destroy or interrupt the regularity, uniformity, continuity, or arrangement of; interrupt: The bleating of a foghorn broke the silence. The troops broke formation.
to put an end to; overcome; stop: His touchdown run broke the tie. She found it hard to break the cigarette habit.
to discover the system, key, method, etc., for decoding or deciphering (a cryptogram), especially by the methods of cryptanalysis.
to remove a part from (a set or collection): She had to break the set to sell me the two red ones I wanted.
to exchange for or divide into smaller units or components: She broke a dollar bill into change. The prism broke the light into all the colors of the rainbow.
to make a way through; penetrate: The stone broke the surface of the water.
Law.
1. to open or force one's way into (a dwelling, store, etc.).
2. to contest (a will) successfully by judicial action.
to make one's way out of, especially by force: to break jail.
to better (a given score or record): He never broke 200 in bowling or 80 in golf.
to disclose or divulge personally in speech or writing: He broke the good news to her at dinner.
to solve: The police needed only a week to break that case.
to rupture (a blood vessel): She almost broke a blood vessel from laughing so hard.
to disable or destroy by or as if by shattering or crushing: to break a watch.
to cause (a blister, boil, or the like) to burst, as by puncturing: She broke the blister with a needle.
to ruin financially; make bankrupt: They threatened to break him if he didn't stop discounting their products.
to overcome or wear down the spirit, strength, or resistance of; to cause to yield, especially under pressure, torture, or the like: They broke him by the threat of blackmail.
to dismiss or reduce in rank.
to impair or weaken the power, effect, or intensity of: His arm broke the blow.
to train to obedience; tame: to break a horse.
to train away from a habit or practice (usually followed by of).
Electricity. to render (a circuit) incomplete; stop the flow of (a current).
Journalism.
1. to release (a story) for publication or airing on radio or television: They will break the story tomorrow.
2. to continue (a story or article) on another page, especially when the page is not the following one.
Pool. to cause (racked billiard balls) to scatter by striking with the cue ball.
Sports.
1. (of a pitcher, bowler, etc.) to hurl (a ball) in such a way as to cause it to change direction after leaving the hand: He broke a curve over the plate for a strike.
2. (in tennis and other racket games) to score frequently or win against (an opponent's serve).
Nautical. to unfurl (a flag) suddenly by an easily released knot.
to prove the falsity or show the lack of logic of: The FBI broke his alibi by proving he knew how to shoot a pistol.
to begin or initiate (a plan or campaign), especially with much publicity: They were going to break the sales campaign with a parade in April.
to open the breech or action of (a shotgun, rifle, or revolver), as by snapping open the hinge between the barrel and the butt.

verb (used without object), broke or (Archaic) brake; bro·ken or (Archaic) broke; break·ing.

to shatter, burst, or become broken; separate into parts or fragments, especially suddenly and violently: The glass broke on the floor.
to become suddenly discontinuous or interrupted; stop abruptly: She pulled too hard and the string broke.
to become detached, separated, or disassociated (usually followed by away, off, or from): The knob broke off in his hand.
to become inoperative or to malfunction, as through wear or damage: The television set broke this afternoon.
to begin suddenly or violently or change abruptly into something else: War broke over Europe.
to begin uttering a sound or series of sounds or to be uttered suddenly: She broke into song. When they entered, a cheer broke from the audience.
to express or start to express an emotion or mood: His face broke into a smile.
to free oneself or escape suddenly, as from restraint or dependency (often followed by away): He broke away from the arresting officer. She finally broke away from her parents and got an apartment of her own.
to run or dash toward something suddenly (usually followed by for): The pass receiver broke for the goal line.
to force a way (usually followed by in, into, or through): The hunters broke through the underbrush.
to burst or rupture: A blood vessel broke in his nose. The blister broke when he pricked it.
to interrupt or halt an activity (usually followed by in, into, forth, or from): Don't break in on the conversation. Let's break for lunch.
to appear or arrive suddenly (usually followed by in, into, or out): A deer broke into the clearing. A rash broke out on her arm.
to dawn: The day broke hot and sultry.
to begin violently and suddenly: The storm broke.
(of a storm, foul weather, etc.) to cease: The weather broke after a week, and we were able to sail for home.
to part the surface of water, as a jumping fish or surfacing submarine.
to give way or fail, as health, strength, or spirit; collapse: After years of hardship and worry, his health broke.
to yield or submit to pressure, torture, or the like: He broke under questioning.
(of the heart) to be overwhelmed with sorrow: Her heart broke when he told her that he no longer loved her.
(of the voice or a musical instrument) to change harshly from one register or pitch to another: After his voice broke, he could no longer sing soprano parts.
(of the voice) to cease, waver, or change tone abruptly, especially from emotional strain: His voice broke when he mentioned her name.
(of value or prices) to drop sharply and considerably.
to disperse or collapse by colliding with something: The waves broke on the shore.
to break dance.
(of a horse in a harness race) to fail to keep to a trot or pace, as by starting to gallop.
Botany. to mutate; sport.
Linguistics. to undergo breaking.
Billiards, Pool. to make a break; take the first turn in a game.
Sports. (of a pitched or bowled ball) to change direction: The ball broke over the plate.
Horse Racing, Track. to leave the starting point: The horses broke fast from the gate.
Boxing. to step back or separate from a clinch: The fighters fell into a clinch and broke on the referee's order.
to take place; occur.
Journalism. to become known, published, or aired: The story broke in the morning papers.
Horticulture. to produce flowers or leaves.

noun

an act or instance of breaking; disruption or separation of parts; fracture; rupture: There was a break in the window.
an opening made by breaking; gap: The break in the wall had not been repaired.
a rush away from a place; an attempt to escape: a break for freedom.
a sudden dash or rush, as toward something: When the rain lessened, I made a break for home.
a suspension of or sudden rupture in friendly relations.
an interruption of continuity; departure from or rupture with: Abstract painters made a break with the traditions of the past.
an abrupt or marked change, as in sound or direction, or a brief pause: They noticed a curious break in his voice.
Informal.
1. an opportunity or stroke of fortune, especially a lucky one.
2. a chance to improve one's lot, especially one unlooked for or undeserved.
the breaks, Informal. the way things happen; fate: Sorry to hear about your bad luck, but I guess those are the breaks.
a brief rest, as from work: The actors took a ten-minute break from rehearsal.
Radio, Television. a brief, scheduled interruption of a program or broadcasting period for the announcement of advertising or station identification.
Prosody. a pause or caesura.
Jazz. a solo passage, usually of from 2 to 12 bars, during which the rest of the instruments are silent.
Music. the point in the scale where the quality of voice of one register changes to that of another, as from chest to head.
break dancing.
a sharp and considerable drop in the prices of stock issues.
Electricity. an opening or discontinuity in a circuit.
Printing.
1. one or more blank lines between two paragraphs.
2. breaks.suspension points.
the place, after a letter, where a word is or may be divided at the end of a line.
a collapse of health, strength, or spirit; breakdown.
Informal. an indiscreet or awkward remark or action; social blunder; faux pas.
Billiards, Pool. a series of successful strokes; run.
Pool. the opening play, in which the cue ball is shot to scatter the balls.
Sports. a change in direction of a pitched or bowled ball.
Horse Racing, Track. the start of a race.
(in harness racing) an act or instance of a horse's changing from a trot or pace into a gallop or other step.
Bowling. a failure to knock down all ten pins in a single frame.
Boxing. an act or instance of stepping back or separating from a clinch: a clean break.
any of several stages in the grinding of grain in which the bran is separated from the kernel.
Botany. a sport.
Journalism. the point at the bottom of a column where a printed story is carried over to another column or page.
Nautical. the place at which a superstructure, deckhouse, or the like, rises from the main deck of a vessel.
breaks, Physical Geography. an area dissected by small ravines and gullies.
Mining. a fault or offset, as in a vein or bed of ore.

Verb Phrases

break away,
1. to leave or escape, especially suddenly or hurriedly.
2. to sever connections or allegiance, as to tradition or a political group.
3. to start prematurely: The horse broke away from the starting gate.
break back, Tennis. to win a game served by an opponent immediately after the opponent has done so against one's own serve.
break down,
1. to become ineffective.
2. to lose control; weaken: He broke down and wept at the sad news.
3. to have a physical or mental collapse.
4. to cease to function: The car broke down.
5. to itemize: to break down a hotel bill into daily charges.
6. Chemistry.to separate (a compound) into its constituent molecules.
7. Electricity.(of an insulator) to fail, as when subjected to excessively high voltage, permitting a current to pass.
8. to decompose.
9. to analyze.
10. to classify.
11. to separate into constituent parts: to break down a beef carcass into basic cuts.
break in,
1. to enter by force or craft: Someone broke in and made off with all the furniture.
2. to train or instruct; initiate: The boss is breaking in a new assistant.
3. to begin to wear or use in order to make comfortable: These shoes haven't been broken in.
4. to interrupt: He broke in with a ridiculous objection.
5. to run (new machinery) initially under reduced load and speed, until any stiffness of motion has departed and all parts are ready to operate under normal service conditions; run in; wear in.
break in on/upon, to enter with force upon or accidentally interrupt; intrude upon: The visitor opened the wrong door and broke in on a private conference.
break into,
1. to interpose; interrupt: He broke into the conversation at a crucial moment.
2. to begin some activity.
3. to be admitted into; enter, as a business or profession: It is difficult to break into the theater.
4. to enter by force: They broke into the store and stole the safe.
break off,
1. to sever by breaking.
2. to stop suddenly; discontinue: to break off a conversation; to break off relations with one's neighbors.
break out,
1. to begin abruptly; arise: An epidemic broke out.
2. Pathology.(of certain diseases) to appear in eruptions.
3. (of a person) to manifest a skin eruption.
4. to prepare for use: to break out the parachutes.
5. to take out of (storage, concealment, etc.) for consumption: to break out one's best wine.
6. Nautical.to dislodge (the anchor) from the bottom.
7. to escape; flee: He spent three years in prison before he broke out.
8. to separate into categories or list specific items: to break out gift ideas according to price range; The report breaks out quarterly profits and losses.
break up,
1. to separate; scatter.
2. to put an end to; discontinue.
3. to divide or become divided into pieces.
4. to dissolve.
5. to disrupt; upset: Television commercials during a dramatic presentation break up the continuity of effect.
6. (of a personal relationship) to end: to break up a friendship; Their marriage broke up last year.
7. to end a personal relationship: Bob and Mary broke up last month.
8. to be or cause to be overcome with laughter: The comedian told several jokes that broke up the audience.
break with,
1. to sever relations with; separate from: to break with one's family.
2. to depart from; repudiate: to break with tradition.

Idioms

break bulk, Nautical. to remove a cargo wholly or in part.
break camp, to pack up tents and equipment and resume a journey or march: They broke camp at dawn and proceeded toward the mountains.
break even, to finish a business transaction, period of gambling, series of games, etc., with no loss or gain: He played poker all night and broke even.
break ground,
1. to begin construction, especially of a building or group of buildings: to break ground for a new housing development.
2. Nautical.to free an anchor from the bottom; break out.
break it down, Australian Slang.
1. stop it; calm down.
2. (used as an exclamation of disbelief) that can't be true!
break (someone's) heart. to cause someone great disappointment or sorrow, as to disappoint in love: It breaks my heart to hear you are leaving me.
break service, Tennis. to win a game served by one's opponent.
break sheer, Nautical. (of an anchored vessel) to drift into such a position as to risk fouling the anchor or anchor cable.Compare sheer²(def 6).
break step. step(def 38).
break wind. to expel gas from the stomach and bowels through the anus.
give me a break, Informal. (used to express annoyance, disbelief, etc.): He didn't show up again? Oh, give me a break!

Origin of break

before 900; Middle English breken, Old English brecan; cognate with Dutch breken, German brechen, Gothic brikan; akin to Latin frangere; see fragile

Related formsbreak·a·ble, adjectivebreak·a·ble·ness, nounbreak·a·bly, adverbbreak·less, adjectivenon·break·a·ble, adjectivere·break, verb, re·broke, re·bro·ken, re·break·ing.un·break·a·ble, adjectiveun·break·a·ble·ness, nounun·break·a·bly, adverb

Can be confusedbrake break

Synonyms for break

1. fracture, splinter, shiver. 2. disobey, contravene. 6. disrupt. 14. surpass, beat. 22. demote. 34. fragment, smash. 69. rent, tear, rip, rift, split; breach, fissure, crack. 74. stop, hiatus, lacuna, pause, caesura.

Synonym study

1. Break, crush, shatter, smash mean to reduce to parts, violently or by force. Break means to divide by means of a blow, a collision, a pull, or the like: to break a chair, a leg, a strap. To crush is to subject to (usually heavy or violent) pressure so as to press out of shape or reduce to shapelessness or to small particles: to crush a beetle. To shatter is to break in such a way as to cause the pieces to fly in many directions: to shatter a light globe. To smash is to break noisily and suddenly into many pieces: to smash a glass.

Antonyms for break

1. repair.

even

[ee-vuhn]

adjective

level; flat; without surface irregularities; smooth: an even road.
on the same level; in the same plane or line; parallel: even with the ground.
free from variations or fluctuations; regular: even motion.
uniform in action, character, or quality: to hold an even course.
equal in measure or quantity: Add even amounts of oil and vinegar.
divisible by two, as a number (opposed to odd).
denoted by such a number: the even pages of a book.
exactly expressible in integers, or in tens, hundreds, etc., without fractional parts: an even seven miles.
Mathematics. (of a function) having a sign that remains the same when the sign of each independent variable is changed at the same time.
equally balanced or divided; equal: Check to see if the scales are even.
leaving no balance of debt on either side; square: We will not be even until I can repay him for saving my life.
calm; placid; not easily excited or angered: an even temper.
equitable, impartial, or fair: an even bargain.

adverb

evenly: The road ran even over the fields.
still; yet (used to emphasize a comparative): even more suitable.
(used to suggest that something mentioned as a possibility constitutes an extreme case or an unlikely instance): Even the slightest noise disturbs him. Even if he attends, he may not participate.
just (used to emphasize occurrence, coincidence, or simultaneousness of occurrences): Even as he lay dying, they argued over his estate.
fully or quite: even to death.
indeed (used as an intensive for stressing the identity or truth of something): He is willing, even eager, to do it.
exactly or precisely: It was even so.

verb (used with object)

to make even; level; smooth (sometimes followed by out): to even a board with a plane.
to place in an even state as to claim or obligation; balance (often followed by up): to even up accounts.

verb (used without object)

to become even: The odds evened before the race.

Verb Phrases

even out,
1. to make or become even, smooth, or flat: The wrinkles will even out when the suit dries.
2. to become equal, balanced, stable, etc.: optimistic that the situation would even out eventually.

Idioms

break even, to have one's profits equal one's losses; neither gain nor lose: The company barely broke even last year.
get even, to be revenged; retaliate: He vowed to get even for the insult.

Origin of even

before 900; (adj.) Middle English; Old English efen; cognate with Gothic ibns, Old High German eban, Old Norse jafn even, equal; (adv.) Middle English even(e), Old English efne, derivative of the adj.; (v.) Middle English evenen, Old English efnan to lower, derivative of the adj.

Related formse·ven·er, noune·ven·ly, adverbe·ven·ness, noun

Synonyms for even

1. plane. See level. 12. tranquil, temperate, composed, peaceful. 13. just.

Antonyms for even

1. irregular. 12. mercurial. 13. biased.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for breakeven

break

verb breaks, breaking, broke or broken

to separate or become separated into two or more piecesthis cup is broken
to damage or become damaged so as to be inoperativemy radio is broken
to crack or become cracked without separating
to burst or cut the surface of (skin, etc)
to discontinue or become discontinuedthey broke for lunch; to break a journey
to disperse or become dispersedthe clouds broke
(tr) to fail to observe (an agreement, promise, law, etc)to break one's word
(foll by with) to discontinue an association (with)
to disclose or be disclosedhe broke the news gently
(tr) to fracture (a bone) in (a limb, etc)
(tr) to divide (something complete or perfect)to break a set of books
to bring or come to an endthe summer weather broke at last
(tr) to bring to an end by or as if by forceto break a strike
(when intr , often foll by out) to escape (from)he broke jail; he broke out of jail
to weaken or overwhelm or be weakened or overwhelmed, as in spirit
(tr) to cut through or penetratea cry broke the silence
(tr) to improve on or surpassto break a record
(tr often foll by in) to accustom (a horse) to the bridle and saddle, to being ridden, etc
(tr often foll by of) to cause (a person) to give up (a habit)this cure will break you of smoking
(tr) to weaken the impact or force ofthis net will break his fall
(tr) to decipherto break a code
(tr) to lose the order ofto break ranks
(tr) to reduce to poverty or the state of bankruptcy
(when intr , foll by into) to obtain, give, or receive smaller units in exchange for; changeto break a pound note
(tr) mainly military to demote to a lower rank
(intr ; often foll by from or out of) to proceed suddenly
(intr) to come into beinglight broke over the mountains
(intr ; foll by into or out into)
1. to burst into song, laughter, etc
2. to change to a faster pace
(tr) to open with explosivesto break a safe
(intr) (of waves)
1. (often foll by against)to strike violently
2. to collapse into foam or surf
(intr) (esp of fish) to appear above the surface of the water
(intr) (of the amniotic fluid surrounding an unborn baby) to be released when the amniotic sac ruptures in the first stage of labourher waters have broken
(intr) informal, mainly US to turn out in a specified mannerthings are breaking well
(intr) (of prices, esp stock exchange quotations) to fall sharply
(intr) to make a sudden effort, as in running, horse racing, etc
(intr) cricket (of a ball) to change direction on bouncing
(tr) cricket (of a player) to knock down at least one bail from (a wicket)
(intr) billiards snooker to scatter the balls at the start of a game
(intr) horse racing to commence running in a racethey broke even
(intr) boxing wrestling (of two fighters) to separate from a clinch
(intr) music
1. (of the male voice) to undergo a change in register, quality, and range at puberty
2. (of the voice or some instruments) to undergo a change in tone, quality, etc, when changing registers
(intr) phonetics (of a vowel) to turn into a diphthong, esp as a development in the language
(tr) to open the breech of (certain firearms) by snapping the barrel away from the butt on its hinge
(tr) to interrupt the flow of current in (an electrical circuit)Compare make 1 (def. 27)
(intr) informal, mainly US to become successful; make a breakthrough
break bread
1. to eat a meal, esp with others
2. Christianityto administer or participate in Holy Communion
break camp to pack up equipment and leave a camp
break ground or break new ground to do something that has not been done before
to overwork or work very hard
break the back of to complete the greatest or hardest part of (a task)
break the bank to ruin financially or deplete the resources of a bank (as in gambling)
break the ice
1. to relieve shyness or reserve, esp between strangers
2. to be the first of a group to do something
break the mould to make a change that breaks an established habit, pattern, etc
break service tennis to win a game in which an opponent is serving
break wind to emit wind from the anus

noun

the act or result of breaking; fracture
a crack formed as the result of breaking
a brief respite or interval between two actionsa break from one's toil
a sudden rush, esp to escapeto make a break for freedom
a breach in a relationshipshe has made a break from her family
any sudden interruption in a continuous action
British a short period between classes at schoolUS and Canadian equivalent: recess
informal a fortunate opportunity, esp to prove oneself
informal a piece of (good or bad) luck
(esp in a stock exchange) a sudden and substantial decline in prices
prosody a pause in a line of verse; caesura
billiards snooker
1. a series of successful shots during one turn
2. the points scored in such a series
billiards snooker
1. the opening shot with the cue ball that scatters the placed balls
2. the right to take this first shot
Also called: service break, break of serve tennis the act or instance of breaking an opponent's service
one of the intervals in a sporting contest
horse racing the start of a racean even break
(in tenpin bowling) failure to knock down all the pins after the second attempt
1. jazza short usually improvised solo passage
2. an instrumental passage in a pop song
a discontinuity in an electrical circuit
access to a radio channel by a citizens' band operator
a variant spelling of brake 1 (def. 6)

interjection

boxing wrestling a command by a referee for two opponents to separate

Word Origin for break

Old English brecan; related to Old Frisian breka, Gothic brikan, Old High German brehhan, Latin frangere Sanskrit bhráj bursting forth

even

adjective

level and regular; flatan even surface
(postpositive foll by with) on the same level or in the same plane (as)one surface even with another
without variation or fluctuation; regular; constantan even rate of progress
not readily moved or excited; placid; calman even temper
equally balanced between two sidesan even game
equal or identical in number, quantity, etctwo even spoonfuls of sugar
1. (of a number) divisible by two
2. characterized or indicated by such a numbermaps are on the even pages Compare odd (def. 4)
relating to or denoting two or either of two alternatives, events, etc, that have an equal probabilityan even chance of missing or catching a train
having no balance of debt; neither owing nor being owed
just and impartial; fairan even division
exact in number, amount, or extentan even pound
equal, as in score; levelnow the teams are even
maths (of a function) unchanged in value when the sign of the independent variable is changed, as in y = z ²See odd (def. 8)
even money
1. a bet in which the winnings are the same as the amount staked
2. (as modifier)the even-money favourite
get even informal to exact revenge (on); settle accounts (with)
of even date law formal, or obsolete of the same or today's date

adverb

(intensifier; used to suggest that the content of a statement is unexpected or paradoxical)even an idiot can do that
(intensifier; used with comparative forms)this is even better
notwithstanding; in spite ofeven having started late she soon caught him up
used to introduce a more precise version of a word, phrase, or statementhe is base, even depraved
used preceding a clause of supposition or hypothesis to emphasize the implication that whether or not the condition in it is fulfilled, the statement in the main clause remains valideven if she died he wouldn't care
archaic that is to say; namely (used for emphasis)he, even he, hath spoken these things
archaic all the way; fullyI love thee even unto death
even as (conjunction) at the very same moment or in the very same way thateven as I spoke, it thundered
even so in spite of any assertion to the contrary: nevertheless

verb

to make or become even

See also break even, even out, evens, even up

Derived Formsevener, nounevenly, adverbevenness, noun

Word Origin for even

Old English efen; related to Old Norse jafn even, equal, Gothic ibns, Old High German eban

even

noun

an archaic word for eve, evening

Word Origin for even

Old English ǣfen; related to Old Frisian ēvend, Old High German āband

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for breakeven

adj.

also break-even; usually with point, 1938, from break (v.) + even (adv.). The verbal phrase in the financial sense is recorded from 1914.

even

adj.

Old English efen "level," also "equal, like; calm, harmonious; quite, fully; namely," from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz (cf. Old Saxon eban, Old Frisian even "level, plain, smooth," Dutch even, Old High German eban, German eben, Old Norse jafn, Danish jævn, Gothic ibns).

Etymologists are uncertain whether the original sense was "level" or "alike." Used extensively in Old English compounds, with a sense of "fellow, co-" (e.g. efeneald "of the same age;" Middle English even-sucker "foster-brother"). Of numbers, from 1550s. Modern adverbial sense (introducing an extreme case of something more generally implied) seems to have arisen 16c. from use of the word to emphasize identity ("Who, me?" "Even you," etc.) Sense of "on an equal footing" is from 1630s. Rhyming reduplication phrase even steven is attested from 1866; even break first recorded 1911. Even-tempered from 1875.

break

Old English brecan "to break, shatter, burst; injure, violate, destroy, curtail; break into, rush into; burst forth, spring out; subdue, tame" (class IV strong verb; past tense bræc, past participle brocen), from Proto-Germanic *brekan (cf. Old Frisian breka, Dutch breken, Old High German brehhan, German brechen, Gothic brikan), from PIE root *bhreg- "to break" (see fraction). Most modern senses were in Old English. In reference to the heart from early 13c. Meaning "to disclose" is from early 13c.

Break bread "share food" (with) is from late 14c. Break the ice is c.1600, in reference to the "coldness" of encounters of strangers. Break wind first attested 1550s. To break (something) out (1890s) probably is an image from dock work, of freeing cargo before unloading it. Ironic theatrical good luck formula break a leg has parallels in German Hals- und Beinbruch "break your neck and leg," and Italian in bocca al lupo. Evidence of a highly superstitious craft (cf. Macbeth).

break

c.1300, "act of breaking," from break (v.). Sense of "short interval between spells of work" (originally between lessons at school) is from 1861. Meaning "stroke of luck" is attested by 1911, probably an image from billiards (where the break that starts the game is attested from 1865). Meaning "stroke of mercy" is from 1914. Musical sense, "improvised passage, solo" is attested from 1920s in jazz.