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

Yet investors this week began rewarding those willing to tap the breaks on heavy debt issuance.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2026

That will raise taxes on higher earners — but, hey, them’s the breaks.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

In some cases, the breaks interrupted the flow of the game just as a team was starting to take control.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

The governing body said they were brought in as a commitment to player welfare, but critics have pointed to broadcasters using the breaks as a way to cash in with commercials.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

“You had a very, very fine surgeon. All the breaks are below the knees. God—” She stopped.

From "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Saenz

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