A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

break something down • break something up
break something down —
1
. destroy smth. by reducing to
pieces: The old cars were broken down for their metal and
parts. 2. cause smth. to be defeated; overcome smth.: The po-
lice tried to break down the prisoner’s opposition. 3. cause
matter to undergo chemical change: Chemicals in the body
break down our food into useful substances. 4. separate smth.
into parts; refer smth. to different categories: The figures must
be broken down into several lists.
break something up —
1
. (of ice, etc.) cleave smth. into smaller
pieces: Enviro Disposal Service can break up old concrete
driveways, then haul away the debris. 2. disband an organiza-
tion, etc.; cause smth. to cease: The king’s death at once broke
up the unity of the Court.
break the Queen’s English • clip the Queen’s En-
glish
break the Queen’s English —(also: break the King’s English)
speak incorrectly owing to lack of skill: Every Berliner feels
exalted when a real English jockey speaks to him and gives
him an opportunity of breaking the Queen’s English.
clip the Queen’s English —(dated sl., also: clip the King’s En-
glish) pronounce words hurriedly and indistinctly when drunk:
He was pretty far overcome by the Champaign, for he clipped
the Queen’s English.
break the wind • break wind
break the wind —said of a line of trees, fence, etc. which
gives protection against the wind: The dunes break the wind
on the beach and provide a beautiful background.
break wind —(euph., also: pass wind) expel intestinal gas
from the anus: I’ll kill the first son of a bitch who even breaks
wind.
Note: 
Neither expression correlates in meaning with the com-
pound broken-winded—(also: wind-broken) used of a horse
that has impaired breathing: The train was heavy, and where
there was any incline the two engines grunted like broken-
winded horses.