Browse all

break one off

C1 informal separable transitive

to break off one piece or item from a larger whole

In plain English

to take one piece away by breaking it off

What does "break one off" mean?

One main meaning — here's how to use it.

1 C1 informal

to separate one piece from something larger by breaking it off

"Break one off and let me taste it."

separable
Usage tip

Colloquial pattern rather than a fixed dictionary headword. Meaning depends on what 'one' refers to.

Words that pair with "break one off"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

a piece a branch a square a chunk a cigarette a strip

How to conjugate "break one off"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
break one off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
breaks one off
he/she/it
Past simple
broke one off
yesterday
Past participle
broken one off
have + pp
-ing form
breaking one off
continuous

Hear "break one off" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "break one off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "break one off"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

break off one piece detach one piece snap off take off a piece

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.