break camp
Strike the tents
To break camp is to pack up and leave a campsite, dismantling tents and gathering gear before moving on.
The phrase applies literally to outdoor camping and figuratively to any temporary base of operations: We'll break camp at dawn and head for the summit.
The opposite is to make or set up camp.
- pack upPrepare belongings for departure
- decampDepart abruptly, often secretly
- departLeave a place
- leaveSanctioned time away
- vacateLeave a place empty
load · pull up stakes · leave no trace · dismantle · tent poles · pull out · clear out · set off · fold · bundle · hit the trail · hit the road · head out · strike · gather · shoulder · haul · gear up
- breakbreakout, breakthrough, heartbreak, jailbreak, daybreak
- departuresleave, depart, exit, leaving, go
break campset up camp
Establish temporary outdoor shelter
pitch camp · pitch a tent · encamp · set up · settle in
break campstay put
Remain in place
remain · settle · hunker down · dig in · hold position
break, camp, broken, broke, breaking, breach, unbroken, breakdown, breakup