break a sweat

idiom

US
: to begin to sweat
He started running and soon broke a sweat.
He loaded all five boxes without breaking a sweat.
often used figuratively to say that something is not hard for someone to do
He gave a perfect performance and didn't break a sweat.

Examples of break a sweat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The latest piece of evidence came last month from a group of Australian researchers, who argued that evening was the healthiest time to break a sweat, at least for those who are overweight. Alexander Nazaryan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2024 Meanwhile, fitness enthusiasts can break a sweat at the on-site gym or partake in beachside group classes led by certified instructors. Anna Tingley, Variety, 7 May 2024 There’s also a gym on the upper level for those who wish to break a sweat. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2024 In the end, Bob Iger didn’t have to break a sweat to fend off Nelson Peltz. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024 Droll in that articulate British way that never seems to break a sweat, Ullett is an expert raconteur — crisp yet colloquial. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, most incumbents at all levels won’t have to break a sweat Tuesday, and some don’t even have an opponent. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024 Most healthcare professionals suggest 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (enough to break a sweat) five days a week.2 Get Tested A simple blood test is used to diagnose prediabetes. Danielle Weiss, Verywell Health, 16 Feb. 2024 Mac Royals, the R&B singer from Wrightsville, Ark., didn’t seem to break a sweat, even in the last spot of the performance rotation. Maggie Fremont, EW.com, 28 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'break a sweat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near break a sweat

Cite this Entry

“Break a sweat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20a%20sweat. Accessed 9 Jun. 2024.

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