breach

breach of decorum

A violation of established social norms or expectations, especially as relates to polite society or specific professions. In an unexpected breach of decorum, she announced her candidacy before the governor officially resigned. Discussing personal problems can sometimes be seen as a breach of decorum in polite company. Kids, get your elbows off the dinner table! Didn't anyone ever tell you that's a breach of decorum?

See also: breach, of

breach of etiquette

A violation of established social norms or expectations, especially as relates to polite society or specific professions. In an unexpected breach of etiquette, she announced her candidacy before the governor officially resigned. Discussing personal problems can sometimes be seen as a breach of etiquette in polite company. Kids, get your elbows off the dinner table! Didn't anyone ever tell you that's a breach of etiquette?

See also: breach, of

breach of faith

A violation of confidence, loyalty, or trust. We do our best to create an environment that is fair for all who participate, so seeing such a flagrant breach of faith from one of our members is inexcusable. The government's actions constitute a clear breach of faith in the intelligence agencies whose data is meant to inform such decisions. I don't think that's a wise decision, sir. To renege on the merger now would be a total breach of faith.

See also: breach, faith, of

breach of promise

A violation of a promise one has made. You told me you would study for this test, and then you got an F. That sounds like a breach of promise to me! I'm glad you're home safe, but you're still grounded. Coming in two hours after curfew is a total breach of promise. I don't think that's a wise decision, sir. To renege on the merger now would be a total breach of promise.

See also: breach, of, promise

step into the breach

To perform an action or job or fill a role or position of another person who is not willing or able to do it. Hailey just called from the hospital, and she's not going to be able to make it tonight, so you're going to have to step into the breach and play Juliet. We should give substitute teachers credit for stepping into the breach every day.

See also: breach, step

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

step into the breach

If you step into the breach, you do something that someone else would usually do but is unable to do. When Richard had to go abroad on business Tim Waites usually stepped into the breach and kept Emerald company. Ted Enloe and Benjamin Rosen will step into the breach until a replacement for Pfeiffer is found.

See also: breach, step

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

step into the breach

take the place of someone who is suddenly unable to do a job or task.

In military terms a breach is a gap in fortifications made by enemy guns or explosives. In this context, to stand in the breach is to bear the brunt of an attack when other defences or expedients have failed.

See also: breach, step

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

step into the ˈbreach

do somebody’s job or work when they are suddenly or unexpectedly unable to do it: The cook at the hotel fell ill, so the manager’s wife stepped into the breach.

This comes from the military. A breach was a hole that had been made in the walls that defended you from your enemies. If you stepped into the breach you stood in front of the hole and tried to stop people from entering.

See also: breach, step

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017