[brain] See: BEAT ONE’S BRAINS OUT, BLOW ONE’S BRAINS OUT, ON THE BRAIN,RACK ONE’S BRAIN, GET ONE’S BRAINS FRIED.

[brain bucket]{n.}, {slang} A motorcycle helmet. •/If you wantto share a ride with me, you’ve got to wear a brain bucket./

[brain drain]{n.}, {informal} 1. The loss of the leadingintellectuals and researchers of a country due to excessive emigration to othercountries where conditions are better. •/Britain suffered a considerablebrain drain to the United States after World War II./ 2. An activityrequiring great mental concentration resulting in fatigue and exhaustion•/That math exam I took was a regular brain drain./

[brain-storm]{v.} To have a discussion among fellow researchers orco-workers on a project in order to find the best solution to a given problem.•/Dr. Watson and his research assistants are brain-storming in the conferenceroom./

[brainstorm]{n.} A sudden insight; a stroke of comprehension.•/Listen to me, I’ve just had a major brainstorm, and I think I found thesolution to our problem./

[brain trust]{n.} A group of specially trained, highly intelligentexperts in a given field. •/Albert Einstein gathered a brain trust aroundhimself at the Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies./

[brake] See: RIDE THE BRAKE.

[branch off]{v.} To go from something big or important to somethingsmaller or less important; turn aside. •/At the bridge a little road branchesoff from the highway and follows the river./ •/Martin was trying to studyhis lesson, but his mind kept branching off onto what girl he should ask to gowith him to the dance./

[branch out]{v.} To add new interests or activities; begin doing otherthings also. •/First Jane collected stamps; then she branched out andcollected coins, too./ •/John started a television repair shop; when he didwell, he branched out and began selling television sets too./

[brand-new] also [bran-new] {adj.} As new or fresh as when justmade and sold by the manufacturer; showing no use or wear. •/He had taken abrand-new car from the dealer’s floor and wrecked it./ •/In Uncle Tom’strunk, we found a wedding ring, still in its little satin-lined box, stillbrand-new./

[brass] See: DOUBLE IN BRASS, GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS.

[brass hat]{n.}, {slang} 1. A high officer in the army, navy, orair force. •/The brass hats In Washington often discuss important secrets./2. Any person who has a high position in business, politics, or other work.•/Mr. Woods, the rich oil man, is a political brass hat./

[brass tacks] See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS.

[brave it out]{v. phr.} To endure something difficult or dangerousthrough to the end; keep on through trouble or danger. •/It was a dangerousocean crossing in wartime, but captain and crew braved it out./

[brazen it out]{v. phr.} To pretend you did nothing wrong; besuspected, accused, or scolded without admitting you did wrong; act as if notguilty. •/The teacher found a stolen pen that the girl had in her desk, butthe girl brazened it out; she said someone else must have put it there./

[bread] See: HALF A LOAF is BETTER THAN NONE, KNOW WHICH SIDE ONE’S BREADIS BUTTERED ON, TAKE THE BREAD OUT OF ONE’S MOUTH.

[bread and butter(1)]{n. phr.} The usual needs of life; food, shelter,and clothing. •/Ed earned his bread and butter as a bookkeeper, but added alittle jam by working with a dance band on weekends./

[bread and butter(2)]{adj.} Thanking someone for entertainment or anice visit; thank-you. •/After spending the weekend as a guest in the Jones'home, Alice wrote the Joneses the usual bread-and-butter letter./ See: BREADAND BUTTER LETTER.

[bread and butter(3)]{interj.}, {informal} Spoken to prevent badluck that you think might result from some action. •/We’d say "Bread andbutter!" when we had passed on opposite sides of a tree./

[bread-and-butter letter]{n.} A written acknowledgment of hospitalityreceived. •/Jane wrote the Browns a bread-and-butter letter when she returnedhome from her visit to them./

[breadbasket]{n.}, {slang} The stomach. •/John is stuffing hisbreadbasket again./

[break] See: COFFEE BREAK.

[break away] or [break loose] {v. phr.} To liberate oneself fromsomeone or something. •/Jane tried to break loose from her attacker, but hewas too strong./

[break camp]{v. phr.} To take down and pack tents and camping things;take your things from a camping place. •/The scouts broke camp at dawn./

[break down]{v.} (stress on "down") 1. To smash or hit (something) sothat it falls; cause to fall by force. •/The firemen broke down the door./2. To reduce or destroy the strength or effect of; weaken; win over. •/Byhelpful kindness the teacher broke down the new boy’s shyness./•/Advertising breaks down a lot of stubbornness against change./ 3. Toseparate into elements or parts; decay. •/Water is readily broken down intohydrogen and oxygen./ •/After many years, rocks break down into dirt./ 4.To become unusable because of breakage or other failure; lose power to work orgo. •/The car broke down after half an hour’s driving./ •/His healthbroke down./ •/When the coach was sick in bed, the training rules of theteam broke down./ Compare: GO BACK ON(2).

[breakdown] See: NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

[breaker] See: JAW-BREAKER.

[break even]{v. phr.}, {informal} (stress on "even") To end aseries of gains and losses having the same amount you started with; haveexpenses equal to profits; have equal gain and loss. •/The storekeeper mademany sales, but his expenses were so high that he just broke even./ •/Ifyou gamble you are lucky when you break even./

[break-even]{n.} The point of equilibrium in a business venture whenone has made as much money as one had invested, but not more — that would be"profit." •/"We’ve reached the break-even point at long last!" — Maxexclaimed with joy./

[break ground]{v. phr.} To begin a construction project by digging forthe foundation; especially, to turn the formal first spadeful of dirt. •/Cityofficials and industrial leaders were there as the company broke ground for itsnew building./ See: BREAK NEW GROUND.

[break in]{v.} (stress on "in") 1a. To break from outside. •/Thefiremen broke in the door of the burning house./ 1b. To enter by force orunlawfully. •/Thieves broke in while the family was away./ 2. To entersuddenly or interrupt. •/A stranger broke in on the meeting withoutknocking./ •/The secretary broke in to say that a telegram had arrived./Compare: CUT IN(2). 3. To make a start in a line of work or with a company orassociation; begin a new job. •/He broke in as a baseball player with a minorleague./ 4. To teach the skills of a new job or activity to. •/An assistantforeman broke in the new man as a machine operator./ 5. To lessen thestiffness or newness of by use. •/He broke in a new pair of shoes./•/Breaking in a new car requires careful driving at moderate speeds./

[break-in]{n.} (stress on "break") A robbery; a burglary. •/We lostour jewelry during a break-in./

[break into]{v.} 1. To force an entrance into; make a rough orunlawful entrance into. •/Thieves broke into the store at night./ 2.{informal} To succeed in beginning (a career, business, or a social life)•/He broke into television as an actor./ 3. To interrupt. •/He broke intothe discussion with a shout of warning./ 4. To begin suddenly. •/He brokeinto a sweat./ •/She broke into tears./ •/The dog heard his master’swhistle and broke into a run./