Phrases & Expressions

A situation where you can enjoy the advantages of two different things at the same time.

• Working from home offers the best of both worlds.
• She enjoys the best of both worlds: city life and country quiet.

Said to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.

• Break a leg tonight on stage!
• Break a leg in your exam tomorrow!

To make someone feel extremely sad or disappointed.

• Don't tell her the bad news; you'll break her heart.
• His constant criticism broke her heart.

To stop a repeating pattern of negative behavior or events.

• She decided to break the cycle of unhealthy eating.
• Therapy helped him break the cycle of addiction.

To be the first to tell someone about something important, often something unpleasant.

• Samantha and Michael are engaged, but they haven't yet broken the news to their parents.
• You'd better break the news to your father gently — you don't want him to have a heart attack.

To cause someone to perform or behave at their best.

• Her encouragement brings out the best in the students.
• This challenging project brings out the best in our engineers.

To disappoint a person by saying something unwelcome that spoils that person's happy belief.

• Sorry to burst your bubble, but the concert was cancelled.
• Don't burst her bubble; let her enjoy her plans for now.

Following rules or official procedures very strictly and exactly.

• He does everything by the book.
• We must do this by the book.

To stop working or doing something for the rest of the day.

• It's 6 pm, let's call it a day.
• I'm tired, I'll call it a day.

to decide to stop doing something, or to end a relationship

• Let's call it quits for today.
• They called it quits after 10 years.