🎲 make or break, to
Definition
To bring on either success or ruin. This term began life as the alliterative make or mar, which dates from the fifteenth century (“Neptunus, that dothe bothe make and marre,” John Lydgate, Assembly of Gods). Dickens was among the first to substitute the current rhyming cliché (in Barnaby Rudge, 1840), which has largely replaced the older form.
Synonyms
- 🏆 Win or lose
- 🚀 Do or die
- 🔥 Sink or swim
- ⚡ Triumph or disaster
- 🎢 All or nothing
Antonyms
- Steady progress
- Consistent gains
- Moderate outcomes
Quaint, Erudite Proverbs
- “He who dares, wins.”
- “Fortune favours the bold.”
- “You can’t win them all, but you can sure as heck try.”
Literary & Pop Culture References
- Literature: “Hunger is the best sauce in the world.” (Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes)
- Movies: “There are no perfect moments; you need to make the moment perfect.” (Dead Poets Society)
- Songs: “I will survive!” (Gloria Gaynor)
- Poetry: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by.” (The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost)
Related Idioms and Expressions
- High stakes: significant risks that can lead to significant rewards.
- Turn the tide: to reverse the current situation.
- Pull through: manage to succeed in a difficult situation.
Humor-Filled Quotable Quotes
- “Trying to be a perfectionist in anything where failure is possible is like eating soup with a fork—you’re going to make a mess, so just dive in and slurp!” – Fictitious Wise Person, 2023
- “They say you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take – so start shooting, LeBron!” – Comedic Sports Enthusiast, probably
- “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade; if life gives you melons, well, you might be dyslexic.” – A clever Stand-Up Comedian
Suggested Books and Movies for Further Inspiration
- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
- The Pursuit of Happyness starring Will Smith
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- Rocky directed by John G. Avildsen
Inspirational Farewell
“Here’s to your defining moments! May they be as thrilling as a roller coaster, yielding wins beyond your wildest dreams and stories that spark joy. Remember, it’s the make-or-mar moments that sculpt masterpieces out of ordinary lives.”
Cheers to making it or breaking it, Lexi Linguist
### Which of the following is a real idiom?
- [x] Sink or swim
- [ ] Jumping with lions
- [ ] Steering the submarine
- [ ] Flying on marshmallows
> **Explanation:** "Sink or swim" is a genuine idiom that means to succeed or fail depending on one's abilities. The others? Laughably imaginary!
### What does 'make or break' mean?
- [ ] To enjoy a casual stroll
- [x] To bring either success or failure
- [ ] To cook breakfast poorly
- [ ] To laugh uncontrollably in public
> **Explanation:** "Make or break" denotes situations where the outcome is either tremendous success or utter failure. No middle ground!
### Which is an expression for high-stakes situations?
- [x] All or nothing
- [ ] Dance like nobody’s watching
- [ ] Spill the beans
- [ ] Cooking with gas
> **Explanation:** "All or nothing" indicates that everything is at stake and you either gain everything or lose everything. High stakes, indeed!
### True or False: The phrase "make or break" originated in the 19th century Dickens' work "Barnaby Rudge."
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! Charles Dickens is credited with popularizing the current version "make or break" in his novel *Barnaby Rudge*.
### Which is an antonym for 'make or break'?
- [ ] Do or die
- [ ] Leap of faith
- [x] Steady progress
- [ ] Winning streak
> **Explanation:** "Steady progress" signifies a consistent and gradual improvement, the opposite of the high stakes implied by 'make or break.'
