make or break
/ˌmeɪk ɔː ˈbreɪk/NEUTRAL · C1
Meaning
to cause either complete success or complete failure
Examples
- 1This contract could make or break our small bakery.
- 2A strong first chapter can make or break a novel.
- 3The Christmas season makes or breaks most toy shops, so everyone works long hours.
- 4One bad review can make or break a new restaurant in a small town.
- 5Will this interview make or break her career as a journalist?
Grammar
Both verbs change together: makes or breaks. The object follows break. Before a noun, use the adjective make-or-break.
More idioms about success
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →bounce backto become successful again after a failuredown the drainwasted, with nothing to show for itagainst all oddsalthough success seemed very unlikelymiss the boatto lose a chance by acting too slowlyfall flatto fail to have the effect that was intendedmake the gradeto be good enough to succeed
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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