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break a sweat

idiom

Definition of break a sweat

US
: to begin to sweat
  • He started running and soon broke a sweat.
  • He loaded all five boxes without breaking a sweat.
—often used figuratively to say that something is not hard for someone to do
  • He gave a perfect performance and didn't break a sweat.

Word by Word Definitions

break play

  1. : to separate into parts with suddenness or violence

  2. : to cause (a bone) to separate into two or more pieces : fracture

  3. to fracture a bone of (a bodily part)

  1. : an act or action of breaking

  2. : the opening shot in a game of pool or billiards

  3. : a gap or opening caused or appearing as if caused by damage : a condition produced by or as if by breaking : gap

See the full definition of break
sweat play

  1. : to excrete moisture in visible quantities through the openings of the sweat glands : perspire

  2. : to labor or exert oneself so as to cause perspiration

  3. : to emit or exude moisture

  1. : hard work : drudgery

  2. : the fluid excreted from the sweat glands of the skin : perspiration

  3. : moisture issuing from or gathering in drops on a surface

See the full definition of sweat

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