Break Up

1. To stop a fight.

Examples: The police broke up the bar fight.
The boxing referee kept breaking up the boxers whenever they attempted to hold one another.

2. To separate into smaller pieces.

Examples: Can you break up the ice into smaller pieces?
The lumber jack broke up the wood.

3. When the reception becomes inaudible because of technical interference.

Examples: The radio started to break up when we entered the tunnel.
The call kept breaking up, so we couldn’t finish our conversation.

4. To stop or end a romantic relationship with another person.
[Noun] {Breakup} Refers to the end of a romantic relationship.

Examples: Janice broke up with Brad over the weekend.
It was a mutual breakup.

See our complete list of English phrasal verbs.