break away

break off (a piece from a whole)

• “Her tooth chipped”

move away or escape suddenly

• “The horses broke from the stable”
• “Three inmates broke jail”
• “Nobody can break out--this prison is high security”

interrupt a continued activity

• “She had broken with the traditional patterns”

withdraw from an organization or communion

• “After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics broke away”

flee; take to one''s heels; cut and run

• “If you see this man, run!”
• “The burglars escaped before the police showed up”