break a sweat
Work up perspiration
To break a sweat is to exert yourself physically enough that perspiration begins.
The phrase often appears in the negative to suggest that something was accomplished with ease: She finished the marathon without breaking a sweat.
It can extend beyond physical exertion to any demanding task: The lawyer didn't break a sweat during cross-examination.
The related phrase don't sweat it means don't worry about it.
- perspireSecrete through pores
- exertionVigorous physical effort
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- dancingRhythmic bodily motion
- cyclingRiding on two wheels
burn · feel the burn · sports · high intensity · gasp · heavy breathing · fitness · strain · workout · sprinting · heart rate · anxiety · treadmill · pant · nervousness · physical · push · hustle
- fitnessfitness, exercise, gym, workout, running
- breakbreakaway, breakdown, breakout, breakthrough, breakup
- maximum effortall-out, full throttle, go all out, go hard, all in
break a sweatstay cool
Maintain emotional composure
take it easy · coast · loaf · idle · relax
break a sweatbreeze through
Accomplish with effortless ease
walk in the park · piece of cake · child's play · easy as pie · no sweat