1
general::
Phrase(s): break away (from someone) [and] break free (from someone); break loose (from someone)
1. Lit. to get free of the physical hold of someone. • I tried to break away from him, but he was holding me too tight. • She broke free from him, at last. • I broke free from the intruder. 2. Fig. to sever a relationship with another person, especially the parent-child relationship. • He found it hard to break away from his mother. • She was almost thirty before she finally broke free., Phrase(s): break something away (from something)
to break a part or piece of something away from the whole. • She broke a bit away and popped it into her mouth. • Todd broke away a piece from the bar of candy.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
1. Leave hurriedly, escape, get loose. For example, The boy tried to break away, but his mother held onto his coat, or On the last lap the horse broke away from the pack. [First half of 1500s] 2. Sever connections with a group. For example, It was hard for me to break away from that organization, but I knew it was necessary. 3. Stop doing something, as in She broke away from work long enough to go out for lunch.
American Heritage Idioms