the breaks

Idioms  

1. Pieces of luck, turns of events, as in No matter how well he pitches, the team always makes fielding errors—that's the breaks, I guess, or There's not much you can do if the breaks are against you. In the singular and modified forms, this term becomes. In the plural form, only the context determines its favorable or unfavorable meaning. [Slang; early 1900s] Also see tough break.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

the breaks

It did get better, but how did Tuchel use the breaks to help England?

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

Another supporter said they were a fan of the breaks - regardless of whether they help teams tactically or not.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

Most of the breaks were repaired within 24 hours, and the neurons continued functioning normally.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 21, 2026

United States manager Mauricio Pochettino said he did not like the breaks during his side's 4-1 win against Paraguay, adding they were "unnecessary" when conditions were tolerable.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

Late spring sunlight shone through the breaks in the masonry and through the barred door, shocking in its brightness, and Scarlett blinked and covered her eyes at the suddenness of the glare.

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman