Meaning & use
break with convention
Last updated
Meaning
phraseidiomformal
To do something that is different from what is normally done or expected.
Grammar: Fixed phrase; it does not take an object. You break with convention, not break convention with something.
Patterns
- break with convention
- a break with convention
The young designer decided to break with convention and use bright colors in the formal hall.
By choosing a woman as leader, the party broke with convention.
His new novel breaks with convention by telling the story backwards.
Common combinations
- decide to break with convention
- The chef decided to break with convention and serve dessert first.
- a break with convention
- Her choice of a simple dress was a break with convention.
- break with convention by doing something
- They broke with convention by holding the meeting online.
Synonyms and how they differ
- go against the grain
- More informal and personal; it suggests doing something that feels unusual or uncomfortable.
- break the mold
- Often approving and means to be very different from the usual type, especially in a good way.
Opposites
Word family
- convention noun
- A usual and accepted way of doing something.
- conventional adjective
- Following the usual and accepted ways; not new or different.
Commonly confused: break with convention or break the convention?
break with convention vs break the convention
This is not the standard fixed phrase. Use 'break with convention' without 'the'.
Practice
By wearing jeans to the ceremony, he ______.
Choose one answer.
'Broke with convention' is the correct fixed phrase. The other options add extra words or prepositions that do not belong in this idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “break with convention”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.