English

Verb

break a sweat

1. To start sweating.
   • 2001, Karon Karter, The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Pilates Method, page 119

     Are you feeling stronger and more energetic, and even—dare I say it—breaking a sweat? No, not a pink-faced, dripping sweat; nevertheless, a little dewy under the arms and around your forehead

   • 2008, The Age, January, "Walkovers blaze a trail for women's equal-pay theory"

     Consider, for instance, that Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Marat Safin and even the supposedly out-of-sorts Lleyton Hewitt all won the opening set of their first-round matches 6-0 before barely breaking a sweat in the two sets that followed.

2. (idiomatic) To put effort into something.

   He succeeded effortlessly, without breaking a sweat.

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