breaking the wheel

Verb

break the wheel (third-person singular simple present breaks the wheel, present participle breaking the wheel, simple past broke the wheel, past participle broken the wheel)

1. (idiomatic) To end a pattern of oppression, inequality, injustice, or abuse.
   • The head of one of Canada's largest unions says it's time to break the wheel and change the way businesses are operated.2020, Carol Todd, "Time to change Canada's business model: UFCW", Regina Leader-Post, 4 September 2020, page NP7
2. (idiomatic) To instigate or enact a major change; to revolutionize; to shake up.
   • Cassandra a woman in her late 60’s was a hairdresser and owner of her own beauty salon in the UK. However, she felt like she was working long hours and never had time for herself. She describes coming to Spain as a way to ‘break the wheel’ and dedicating time to what she loves, which involves a...2019, Emma Fàbrega-Domènech, "Problematizing the ‘Good Life’ on the Costa del Sol: Detecting Diversity in Privileged Experiences of Northern European Migrant Retirees", QuAderns, Number 35, page 71