make or break
Speech parts
1. make or break - Adjective
2. make or break - Verb
Meaning
make or break (third-person singular simple present makes or breaks, present participle making or breaking, simple past made or broke, past participle made or broken)
To be a crucial factor in determining the success of something.
Vince knew that his ability to come up with a catchy hook would make or break his song.
make-or-break
Resulting in either success or failure.
Prince Harry is taking girlfriend Chelsy Davy on a make-or-break African holiday in a bid to heal their troubled relationship.
Alternative names
make-or-break
Synonyms
Related terms
Examples
Every song has a memory; every song has the ability to make or break your heart, shut down the heart, and open the eyes. But I'm afraid if you look at a thing long enough; it loses all of its meaning.
A bowler can make or break a chap.
You now have to decide what 'image' you want for your brand. Image means personality. Products, like people, have personalities, and they can make or break them in the market place.
Hardships make or break people.
As I was coming up on the stage, there was one source that could make or break you, the New York Times. Inevitably there would be one actor singled out for a better review, or worse, than somebody else. The effect of that was cancerous, divisive.
I'm a big believer that accessories can make or break a look.