break safety

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "break safety" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to a situation where safety protocols are not followed, but the phrase itself is ambiguous and lacks context. Example: "The team was warned not to break safety protocols during the construction process."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Worse, they were reportedly busy taking bribes (letting tractors break safety rules) when the stampede happened.

The Economist

The trial, held in Charleston, was to determine whether Blankenship is guilty of conspiring to break safety laws, defrauding mine regulators and lying to both investors and regulators about mine safety.

The Guardian

For those who wanted a reckoning for Blankenship and his practices, it is a brutal measure of our legal priorities that he faced far heavier penalties for lying to investors and regulators than he did for conspiring to break safety rules.

The New Yorker

The authorities dismissed five mine safety officials for allowing a Siberian coal mine to "break safety rules for the benefit of profit," an action they said led to an explosion in March that killed 108 miners, the biggest mine disaster in Russia's recent history.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Since then, regulators have often fined it for breaking safety standards.

The Economist

Fleck worried about "moronic" hobbyists breaking safety rules, like the guy who sent his drone dangerously close to J.F.K. airspace last month.

The New Yorker

So now, a year and a day after Devin Weaver died at 21 in a fire where the government admits it broke safety rules, Mr. Weaver has something more to remember his son by.

The New York Times

But the report also blamed Mr. Franklin and Mr. Hill, saying they broke safety rules, failing to cover the electrified third rail with protective mats when they carried the dolly across the tracks, among other things.

The New York Times

Up to 40% of tube trains were running in London today despite the tube strike as unions claimed that London Underground broke safety rules to keep the network working.

The Guardian

Staff at the school said the two men, who claimed at this point to be Afghan, worked hard to win their pilots' licences, but that Mr Atta was prone to defying instructions: on one occasion, he reportedly broke safety rules by walking across a busy runway.

The Economist

An organizing committee of employees cited 12-hour shifts with meager breaks, safety issues, and long, unpaid security checks as reasons for going union, according to Bloomberg.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "break safety", opt for more precise and grammatically correct alternatives such as "violate safety regulations" or "compromise safety standards" to ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using the vague term "break safety". Clearly specify what aspect of safety is being violated or compromised. For example, instead of saying "the company broke safety", state "the company violated fire safety regulations".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "break safety" functions as a verb phrase where "break" acts as a transitive verb, but it's grammatically questionable. While it attempts to describe an action that violates or compromises safety, it lacks the precision of more established phrases. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "break safety" appears in some news and media contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect and lacks precision. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is not correct. It's advisable to use more established and clearer alternatives such as "violate safety regulations", "compromise safety standards", or "disregard safety protocols" to ensure effective communication. These alternatives provide greater clarity and are more suitable for formal writing. The infrequency of the phrase and its grammatical ambiguity make it a less desirable choice in most contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

violate safety regulations

Focuses specifically on the act of contravening established safety rules and guidelines.

compromise safety standards

Highlights the weakening or endangering of established safety benchmarks.

disregard safety protocols

Emphasizes a deliberate neglect of established safety procedures.

neglect safety measures

Focuses on the failure to implement or maintain necessary safety precautions.

infringe safety rules

Implies a transgression against specific safety rules.

flout safety guidelines

Suggests a blatant and intentional disregard for safety directives.

circumvent safety procedures

Highlights the act of finding a way around established safety protocols.

defy safety norms

Indicates open resistance to accepted safety practices.

undermine safety

Focuses on actions that gradually weaken the overall level of safety.

jeopardize safety

Emphasizes the act of putting safety at risk.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "break safety" to be more accurate?

Consider using phrases like "violate safety regulations", "compromise safety standards", or "disregard safety protocols" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "break safety rules"?

While understandable, it's more precise to say "violate safety rules" or "disregard safety rules". Using "violate" or "disregard" provides a clearer meaning.

What is a formal way to express the idea of not following safety guidelines?

In a formal context, it's best to use phrases like "fail to adhere to safety guidelines" or "act in contravention of safety protocols".

When should I use "compromise safety" instead of "break safety"?

Use "compromise safety" when the actions weaken or endanger the safety level, rather than directly violating a rule. For example, "cutting corners on maintenance can "compromise safety"".