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brèche

breach, gap

noun BRESH Rare
Descriptions & Qualities

Origin: Old French 'bresche', from Frankish 'brecha' (break)

Also means

notch, nick

Usage Note

Brèche originally described a gap broken in a wall or fortification, and still carries that physical sense. Figuratively, faire une brèche dans means to make a dent in something (a budget, an argument). The idiom être toujours sur la brèche means to be always hard at work, never resting.

Examples

"Les soldats ont ouvert une brèche dans le mur."

Natural Translation

The soldiers opened a breach in the wall.

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