To finish the domination of anything; to minimize the ability of whatever. the govt has labored for years to wreck the again of equipped crime. cost a fortune Fig. to exploit up all one’s funds. (Fig. at the snapshot of on line casino playing, within the infrequent occasion gambler wins more cash than the home [bank] has available. ) it's going to hardly ever cost a fortune if we exit to dinner only once. procuring a brand new costume at a coupon expense won’t cost a fortune. holiday the behavior visit holiday a behavior. holiday the ice Fig. to begin social interchanges and dialog; to get whatever all started. It’s demanding to damage the ice at formal occasions. Sally broke the ice on the public sale via bidding $20,000 for the portray. holiday the legislation visit holiday a legislation. cost a fortune holiday the scoop (to so) Fig. to inform an individual a few vital information, often undesirable information. The physician needed to holiday the inside track to Jane approximately her husband’s melanoma. holiday the silence Fig. to make a noise interrupting a interval of silence. The wind broke the silence through blowing the door closed. holiday the spell 1. Fig. to place an finish to a magic spell. The wizard appeared in his magic ebook to determine easy methods to holiday the spell. 2. Fig. to do whatever that ends a fascinating interval of [figurative] attraction. on the finish of the second one stream, a few fool broke the spell via applauding. holiday via (sth) Fig. to beat anything; to penetrate a [figurative] barrier. Tom used to be capable of holiday via racial boundaries. The scientists broke during the secret surrounding the ailment and located the reason. holiday sth to so Fig. to reveal a few information or details to a person. (Often stated of disagreeable information. ) I hate to be the single to damage this to you, yet there's hassle at domestic. We broke the undesirable information to Ken lightly. get a divorce 1. Fig. [for a wedding] to dissolve in divorce. Their marriage ultimately broke up. 2. Fig. to start guffawing very tough. (It is one’s composure that's “breaking. ”) The comic instructed a very solid comic story, and the viewers broke up. three. visit get a divorce (with so). holiday so up† Fig. to reason somebody to chuckle, might be at an beside the point time. The comedian’s task was once to damage up the viewers via telling striking jokes. holiday sth up† 1. to break whatever. The police broke up the playing ring. 2. Fig. to place an finish to whatever. Walter’s mom and dad broke up the get together at 3 within the morning. get a divorce (with so) Fig. to finish a romantic dating with somebody. Tom broke up with Mary and commenced relationship Lisa. holiday wind Euph. to expel gasoline from the anus. anyone at the bus broke wind. It smelled bad. holiday with so/group visit holiday off (with so/group). holiday with culture 1. Fig. to deviate from culture; to stop following culture. The media broke with culture and entirely overlooked Groundhog Day to dedicate more room to severe information. 2. Fig. a deviation from culture. In a holiday with culture, Groundhog Day was once absolutely overlooked by way of the media. holiday one’s observe Fig. to not do what one acknowledged one may do; to not maintain one’s promise. (Compare this with retain one’s notice. ) should you holiday your note, she won’t belief you back.