break a promise
Verb
Meaning
break a promise (third-person singular simple present breaks a promise, present participle breaking a promise, simple past broke a promise, past participle broken a promise)
To fail to keep a promise.
Synonyms
Antonyms
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Never break a promise to an animal. They're like babies-they won't understand.
They (i. e., the Olympian gods) operate on moral principles. You have to break a promise to them, or break a rule, for them to get power over you.
We didn't break a promise. We made a commitment in our manifesto, we didn't win the election. We then entered into a coalition agreement, and it's the coalition agreement that is binding upon us and which I'm trying to honour.