Phrase guide

break a sweat

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To start sweating.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To put effort into something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He succeeded effortlessly, without breaking a sweat.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

31 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: քրտնել (kʻrtnel) — to start sweating
  • Chinese Mandarin: 出汗 (chūhàn) — to start sweating
  • Czech: zpotit se — to start sweating
  • Finnish: tulla hikeen — to start sweating
  • French: se mettre à transpirer — to start sweating
  • French: commencer à transpirer — to start sweating
  • German: ins Schwitzen kommen — to start sweating
  • Japanese: 汗をかく (ase o kaku) — to start sweating
  • Polish: napocić się — to start sweating
  • Portuguese: começar a suar — to start sweating
  • Russian: вспоте́ть (vspotétʹ) — to start sweating
  • Spanish: comenzar a sudar — to start sweating
  • Spanish: empezar a sudar — to start sweating
  • Vietnamese: đổ mồ hôi — to start sweating
  • Armenian: ջանք թափել (ǰankʻ tʻapʻel) — to put effort into something
  • Bengali: মাথার ঘাম পায়ে ফেলা (mathar gham paẏe phela) — to put effort into something
  • Chinese Mandarin: 费劲 (fèijìn) — to put effort into something
  • Czech: zpotit se — to put effort into something
  • Dutch: er flink voor werken — to put effort into something
  • Finnish: tulla hikeen — to put effort into something
  • French: sans broncher — to put effort into something
  • French: sans sourciller — to put effort into something
  • German: sich ins Zeug legen — to put effort into something
  • German: ins Schwitzen kommen — to put effort into something
  • Polish: napocić się — to put effort into something
  • Portuguese: esforçar-se — to put effort into something
  • Russian: приложи́ть уси́лия (priložítʹ usílija) — to put effort into something
  • Russian: пошевели́ть па́льцем (poševelítʹ pálʹcem) — to put effort into something
  • Spanish: sudar la gota gorda — to put effort into something
  • Turkish: ter dökmek — to put effort into something
  • Vietnamese: đổ mồ hôi — to put effort into something