break / break off

Members help members on grammar, vocab, pronunciation...

Moderator: EC

Post Reply
Brahman
Rising Star
Rising Star
Posts: 243
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:04 am
Location: Singapore

break / break off

Post by Brahman »

Should it be

1) Let's break off for lunch.

or

2) Break up for lunch.

or

3) Let's break for lunch.


?
User avatar
Joe
Admin/Teacher
Admin/Teacher
Posts: 1789
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 6:56 am
Status: Teacher of English
Location: England

Re: Break

Post by Joe »

Let's break for lunch. :ok:
Brahman
Rising Star
Rising Star
Posts: 243
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:04 am
Location: Singapore

Re: Break

Post by Brahman »

Thank you very much, Josef!

I have found some examples of "break off" in the dictionaries. Are they Standard English or regionalism?

1. Finally we would break off for coffee and to talk more informally. [pg. 35, Oxford Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs by A.P.Cowie & R. Mackin]

2. Let's break off and have a cup of tea.
2a. Let's break off work and have a cup of tea. [Longman Dictionary of Phrasal verbs by Rosemary Courtney]
jmio
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun May 01, 2011 9:52 am
Status: Other

Re: Break

Post by jmio »

"Break off" is less common and might not sound right in all situations, but both are standard.
User avatar
Joe
Admin/Teacher
Admin/Teacher
Posts: 1789
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 6:56 am
Status: Teacher of English
Location: England

Re: Break

Post by Joe »

I agree with jmio. The danger with "break off" is that it can imply the end of an activity, not a mere pause. This is indicated by the use of the word "Finally" in your example sentence #1. Sentences #2 and #2a are ambiguous and we might only know from the context whether the break was permanent or temporary.
Brahman
Rising Star
Rising Star
Posts: 243
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:04 am
Location: Singapore

Re: break / break off

Post by Brahman »

Josef and jmio,

Thank you very much for your help.
Post Reply