break even
break even — idiom
1. to complete a business activity or a period of trading with total income exactly
to complete a business activity or a period of trading with total income exactly matching total costs, so that you neither gain money nor lose money.
The online boutique broke even in its second year, covering all start-up costs.
intransitive: subject + break even + time phrase
Lakshmi calculated she needed to sell seventy handbags at her stall to break even.
break even on + [cost/item]
After disappointing ticket sales, the film studio barely broke even on production costs.
If the restaurant keeps losing customers, it will struggle to break even this quarter.
The publisher hoped the textbook would at least break even on its first edition.
- recoup costs
more active and deliberate — emphasises getting back money spent
- cover costs
more general — means earning enough to pay for expenses, not necessarily exactly breaking even
- make a profit
earn more than costs — the desirable opposite of breaking even
- make a loss
earn less than costs — worse than breaking even
文法句型
subject + break even
subject + be able to break even
subject + break even + on + [cost/item]
用法筆記
This is the most common use of 'break even'. The phrase is always used intransitively — you do not 'break even something'. If you need to mention the cost or activity, add 'on' (e.g., break even on the project). Frequently modified by adverbs such as 'barely', 'just', 'nearly', or 'almost' to show how close the outcome was.
常見錯誤
2. to reach a state in any activity where gains and losses, advantages and disadvan
to reach a state in any activity where gains and losses, advantages and disadvantages, or positive and negative factors are exactly equal, so that no side has an overall advantage.
Over the whole debate, the two candidates broke even — neither scored a decisive advantage.
figurative balance in a contest
The tennis players broke even on the final set, each winning exactly six games.
In the debate tournament, Wei High School and Tariq Academy broke even with identical scores.
Sofia and Mateo broke even in their ping-pong match after each won three games.
- draw (a match/game)
specifically for sports and competitions
- tie
common in American English for games and contests
文法句型
subject + break even
subject + break even + on + [measure]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (NO PROFIT OR LOSS). Sense 2 is broader and non-financial — it applies to sports, debates, negotiations, or any situation where you compare opposing forces. If the context mentions money, Sense 1 is almost certainly intended.
常見錯誤
break even — noun
1. the moment or stage in a business or project when the total money earned equals
the moment or stage in a business or project when the total money earned equals the total money spent so far, leaving the business with a net result of zero — no gain and no shortfall.
The start-up reached break-even six months ahead of schedule.
verb + break-even: reach break-even
Benjamin estimated that break-even would come once the factory produced ten thousand units.
Beyond break-even, every extra phone case that Keiko sold brought pure profit to her small shop.
The financial report showed that the firm was still far from break-even after three years.
Analysts calculated the break-even at two hundred subscriptions per month.
- breakeven point
less common alternative spelling, especially in economics
- zero-profit point
more technical, used in accounting contexts
文法句型
reach break-even
approach break-even
be at break-even
break-even point
用法筆記
When used as a noun, 'break-even' is typically written with a hyphen. It is often used without an article ('reach break-even') but can take a definite article ('the break-even'). The phrase 'break-even point' is a common alternative with the same meaning.
常見錯誤
break even — adjective
1. used to describe a situation, price, period, or analysis in which the amount ear
used to describe a situation, price, period, or analysis in which the amount earned is equal to the amount spent and there is no profit or loss.
The board reviewed the break-even analysis before approving the expansion plan.
break-even analysis — common business collocation
Andrei identified the break-even price for the handcrafted furniture at two hundred dollars per piece.
The break-even period for the new café was estimated at fourteen months of operation.
Investors asked for a clear break-even timeline before committing more funds to the project.
- cost-neutral
broader synonym used in project management and sustainability contexts
文法句型
break-even + noun
用法筆記
The adjective 'break-even' always appears before a noun (attributive position). You cannot say 'the situation is break-even' — use the idiom form instead ('the situation breaks even'). Common noun partners: 'point', 'analysis', 'price', 'period', 'timeline', 'scenario'.