break the mold

idiom

1
: to do something in a completely new way
Voters are looking for a candidate who will break the mold and give them honest answers.
2
informal
used to describe a very unusual or admired person
He was the greatest man I ever knew. They broke the mold when they made that guy.

Examples of break the mold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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For those looking to break the mold, genetic screening offers an unexpected yet deeply personal gift idea that can spark curiosity and create unique opportunities to plan for the future. Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025 Sean likes to break the mold, and kinda zig when everybody else is zagging. Vincent Perella, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Break the mold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20the%20mold. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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