break off

From Middle English breke of (“break off, terminate”), a dissimilated form of earlier Middle English ofbreken, equivalent to break +‎ off.

break off (third-person singular simple present breaks off, present participle breaking off, simple past broke off, past participle broken off)

1. To end abruptly, either temporarily or permanently.
   • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, chapter 4, in Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934:

     Then the conversation broke off, and there was little more talking, only a noise of men going backwards and forwards, and of putting down of kegs and the hollow gurgle of good liquor being poured from breakers into the casks.

2. To end a relationship.

   Both families want the lovers to break off any relationship they may have.

3. To remove a piece from a whole by breaking or snapping
   • 1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M. Hill Co., →OCLC:

     The bees came and found no one but the Woodman to sting, so they flew at him and broke off all their stings against the tin, without hurting the Woodman at all.

4. (billiards, snooker) Alternative form of break-off

• off break