break off contact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "break off contact" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to end communication or stop having contact with someone. Example: After the argument, Sarah decided to break off contact with her ex-boyfriend and blocked him on all social media platforms.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Even more hurtfully, he had instructed their sister to break off contact too.

The Guardian - Books

Aides said the president would not automatically break off contact with Sinn Fein.

The Guardian

"In case we come up on something we can't handle -- like a tank -- we make smoke and break off contact".

The New York Times

The CDU could break off contact "it's no longer possible to come to an understanding," she said.

The Guardian

The Israeli government decided early this morning to break off contact with Yasir Arafat after Palestinian militants killed 10 people Wednesday evening.

The New York Times

He also took swipe at the denial of "disconnection": the Scientology practice whereby members are allegedly told to break off contact with their friends and families.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

The elder Mr. Tanzi's brother, Giovanni, who was on the board of Parmalat, has also broken off contact, as has his niece, Paola Visconti, who in previous months resigned from the board after a dispute with Calisto Tanzi.

The New York Times

She had been convicted of credit card fraud and then broken off contact with her family, who had wondered if she'd been killed.

Huffington Post

The two men broke off contact.

The New Yorker

After this the Fuselis broke off contact.

The New York Times - Books

The aircraft had broken off contact with control.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "break off contact", consider the context and choose the alternative that best reflects the nature and finality of the separation. For example, "sever ties" implies a more emotional and significant break than "cease communication".

Common error

Avoid using "break off contact" when a temporary suspension of communication is intended. Phrases like "suspend communication" or "temporarily halt contact" are more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "break off contact" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating the action of ending communication or interaction with someone. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "break off contact" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the termination of communication or interaction with someone. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase appears frequently in diverse contexts, particularly in news and media, wiki entries, and formal business settings. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, the choice of alternative phrasing may be influenced by the specific context, level of formality, and the desired impact. When using "break off contact", be mindful of its implication of permanence and select synonyms carefully to reflect the nature of the separation accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

end communication

A simpler and more direct way of expressing the same idea.

discontinue contact

A more formal way of saying "break off contact".

cease communication

Emphasizes the ending of communication rather than all forms of contact.

cut off communication

Implies a sudden and often forceful end to communication.

discontinue relations

Focuses on ending a formal or diplomatic relationship.

terminate communication

Highlights the formal and definitive end to communication.

halt communication

Emphasizes stopping the act of communicating.

sever ties

Implies a more significant and often emotional ending of a relationship.

suspend communication

Suggests a temporary halt to communication, rather than a permanent end.

have no further dealings

Focuses on ending business or transactional interactions.

FAQs

What does "break off contact" mean?

The phrase "break off contact" means to end communication or stop having any interaction with someone.

What can I say instead of "break off contact"?

You can use alternatives like "cease communication", "discontinue relations", or "end communication" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "broke off contact" instead of "break off contact"?

Yes, "broke off contact" is the past tense form of the phrase and is grammatically correct when referring to a past event.

What's the difference between "break off contact" and "cut off communication"?

"Break off contact" is a general term for ending any kind of interaction, while "cut off communication" implies a more sudden and forceful end to communication specifically.