Meaning trap
break up
end a romantic relationship
When two people break up, they end their romantic relationship.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
When two people break up, they end their romantic relationship.
Another meaning of 'break up' is 'separate into smaller pieces'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
After dating for two years, they decided to break up.
In my opinion, it's better to break up than to stay in an unhappy relationship.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: She broke up her boyfriend last week.
Say: She broke up with her boyfriend last week.
You 'break up WITH' someone — don't drop 'with'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Break up' is the everyday verb for a couple splitting; 'terminated our relationship' is bizarrely formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
break up with
- with him
- with her
- for good
- over text
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- break up (separate into smaller pieces) — Another meaning of 'break up' is 'separate into smaller pieces'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.