make or break

verb

To be a crucial factor in determining the success of something.

“Vince knew that his ability to come up with a catchy hook would make or break his song.”

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Meanings

verbmake or break (third-person singular simple present makes or breaks, present participle making or breaking, simple past made or broke, past participle made or broken)

present singular third person makes or breaks · participle present making or breaking · past made or broke · participle past made or broken

  1. To be a crucial factor in determining the success of something.

    Vince knew that his ability to come up with a catchy hook would make or break his song.

Cite this entry
APA

make or break. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20or%20break

MLA

“make or break.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20or%20break. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “make or break,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20or%20break.

Source: make or break on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.