breach用作动词的基本意思是“攻破”,指在防御工事等上打开缺口,引申可表示“破坏,违反”。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
We have breached the enemy defences.我们突破了敌人的防线。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
These commitments have already been breached.这些承诺已遭背弃。

［词源］＜古英语bryce＜brecan(破)

stand in the breach
挑重担,首当其冲 be the first to be effected
Whenever there is danger, he always stands in the breach.每逢遇到危险,他总是首当其冲。

step into the breach
补缺; 代替 fill in the position
His assistant stepped into the breach when the old surgeon was unable to go on with the operation.当那位老外科医生不能继续动手术时,他的助手接替他将手术进行了下去。

We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
The incident caused an irreparable breach between the two countries.这事件在两国之间造成了不可弥补的裂痕。
At dawn, the breach was closed at last.黎明的时候,破洞终于合拢了。