break one's word

break (one's) word

To fail to act as one has promised. Tom said he'd help us move, but he broke his word and failed to show. If you keep flaking out, you're going to become known as someone who breaks their word. I cannot believe he broke his word and backed out of the merger at the eleventh hour!

See also: break, word

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

break one's word

Violate or fail to observe a promise or contract one has made. For example, You can trust him implicitly; I've never known him to break his word. [c. a.d. 1000]

See also: break, word

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.