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break free

[/breɪk friː/]
verb (phrasal verb)
libertar-se, escapar, soltar-se
1. To escape from confinement, restraint, or control
The prisoner managed to break free from his chains.
O prisioneiro conseguiu se libertar de suas correntes.
2. To become independent or emancipated from someone or something
She decided to break free from her family's expectations.
Ela decidiu se libertar das expectativas de sua família.
3. To escape from a difficult or oppressive situation
He finally broke free from his addiction.
Ele finalmente se libertou de seu vício.
NYC Slang
bounce out, get out, dip out (in certain contexts)
Synonyms
escapeget awayliberate oneselfemancipate oneselfbreak away
Antonyms
stay captiveremain trappedsubmitconform

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
se libertar, escapar
Most common usage in Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
se soltar, se libertar
Common colloquial usage
São Paulo
se libertar, escapar
Standard usage
Portugal
libertar-se, escapar
Standard European Portuguese usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

break the chains
break the shackles
set oneself free
escape the grasp
break away from
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