Meaning
to stop doing something that one does regularly and often unhealthily
Primary Function
Verb-noun collocation for behavioural change
Communicative Purpose
To describe cessation of a negative pattern
Pattern
break; a habit
Core Structure
break; a habit
Função primária
Verb-noun collocation for behavioural change
Propósito comunicativo
To describe cessation of a negative pattern
Situações de gatilho
Self-improvement, addiction counselling, lifestyle changes
Contextos
Everyday conversation, professional coaching sessions, health education materials
Padrão
break; a habit
Estrutura central
break; a habit
Slots de substituição
any noun phrase denoting the habit, such as a bad habit, an old habit, the habit
Colocados típicos
- bad
- old
- annoying
- smoking
- nail-biting
Substituições comuns
- kick a habit (informal)
- shake off a habit
- give up
Erros comuns
*quit a habit (possible but ‘quit’ is more for addiction, ‘habit’ is broader); *lose a habit.
Similar / contraste
kick the habit (informal, often used for addiction)
Interferências
Don’t confuse with ‘break a record’. The phrase implies conscious effort rather than an automatic change like quitting alcohol or nicotine.
Família do chunk
- kick the habit
- shake off a habit
- rid oneself of
Nuance
'Break a habit' suggests deliberate intention and ongoing practice, whereas 'kick the habit' can imply stronger resolve—often associated with smoking cessation or similar addictions.
Efeito pragmático
Encouraging; conveys personal agency and commitment to improvement.
Dica de memória
break habit
Nota
This chunk is often used to describe the process of stopping an unwanted behavior or routine. It emphasizes the effort required to change deeply ingrained patterns.
Upgrade path
stop → give up → break deeply ingrained habits
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