What does breaking up mean on a phone call?: Vocabulary Boost
- Mark Connolly
- Feb 23
- 2 min read
Vocabulary Boost: What to say when the signal is bad
🎥 Watch the video version of this lesson above!
We have all been there.
You are in the middle of an important Zoom call or a WhatsApp chat with a friend, and suddenly the sound starts to jump.
You only hear every second word.
Many students say, "The sound is bad" or "I can't hear you."
While these are okay, there is a much more natural way to describe this: Breaking up.
The 3-Step Method to Mastery
1. See it in Context 👁️
Listen to how people use it during a call:
"Sorry, Sarah, I can't hear you clearly, you’re breaking up."
Notice that we use the "ing" form here because it is happening right now during the conversation.
2. Learn the Definition 🧠
Breaking up (phrasal verb) describes a digital connection that is failing.
It means the "pieces" of the audio are not reaching you in a smooth line.
Instead of a continuous sound, the connection is "breaking" into small parts.
3. Make it Your Own ✍️
Think about your last bad video call:
"The WiFi is terrible here, am I breaking up?"
"You're breaking up a little bit. Can you repeat that last part?"
Why use "Breaking up" instead of "Bad sound"?
"Bad sound" could mean many things: maybe the speakers are broken, or the person is whispering.
"Breaking up" tells the listener specifically that the connection is the problem.
It is a very helpful phrase for business English and travel.
Your Turn
Let's practice! Have you had any technical problems recently?
Try writing your own sentence with the phrase breaking up in the comments down below.
I will check your sentences and reply to you! :)
🎯 Want to Improve Faster?
If you enjoy these lessons and want to improve your English more quickly, you can book 1-to-1 lessons with me through my website. 👉 Visit www.onyourmarksenglish.com
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