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breach

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breach of decorum

A violation of established social norms or expectations, especially as relates to polite society or specific professions. In an unexpected breach of decorum, she announced her candidacy before the governor officially resigned. Discussing personal problems can sometimes be seen as a breach of decorum in polite company.

See also: breach, of

breach of etiquette

A violation of established social norms or expectations, especially as relates to polite society or specific professions. In an unexpected breach of etiquette, she announced her candidacy before the governor officially resigned. Discussing personal problems can sometimes be seen as a breach of etiquette in polite company.

See also: breach, of

breach of promise

A violation of a promise one has made. You told me you would study for this test, and then you got an F. That sounds like a breach of promise to me!

See also: breach, of, promise

step into the breach

to do work that someone else is not able or not willing to do Other institutions are stepping into the breach to make loans where banks will not.

Usage notes: also used in the form throw someone into the breach: Friedman was thrown into the breach when our head coach suddenly quit.

See also: breach, step

step into the breach

  (formal)

to do someone's work when they are suddenly not able to do it Professor Collier stepped into the breach when the guest lecturer failed to turn up.

See also: breach, step