Recently, we talked here on the site about the expression The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back , which refers to “the straw that broke the camel’s back”, that is, that moment when the person finally can’t take it anymore and explodes.
Our expression today has a similar meaning ─ breaking point means “limit” or “rupture point” , that is, it refers to that moment in which a situation simply can no longer continue.
If you want to say that something is at its limit, you should use the preposition at . But if you want to say that something has reached its limit (and not “reached the”, ok?), you can use several verbs, such as reach and stretch to .
Below, see some sentences with breaking point and then add this expression to your Anki !
Her nerves were at breaking point .
The situation reached breaking point when his son crashed the family car.
We’ve been working 18 hours a day and we are all at the breaking point .
Tensions between the two nations had risen to the breaking point .
The report on the riot exposed a prison system stretched to breaking point .
Families round
here are at breaking point . They have been on half wages since October. (
Read the post English Structures: Months of the Year .)
The city’s transport system is already stretched to breaking point .
For some reason this harmless statement brought Russell’s temper to the breaking point .
Breaking point can also be translated as “rupture point”:
The breaking point came when he had to sack his deputy Prime Minister.
As
hospitals across Britain reach breaking point , NHS bosses see the need to come up with a new plan. (
Read the post Come Up With | What does this phrasal verb mean? )
Her anger was gone , leaving only a miserable sense that their wonderful relationship had reached breaking point .
Since you read today about breaking point , also learn about other expressions with the word point ! I recommend Turning Point , Moot Point and Case In Point . See you next time!
