break off vs flake off

break off and flake off both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
break off	No	No	Yes	No
flake off	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, flake off is a hyponym of break off; that is, flake off is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than break off:

Other hyponyms of break off include flake, peel, peel off, exfoliate.

break off (verb)	flake off (verb)
prevent completion	come off in flakes or thin small pieces
interrupt before its natural or planned end
break a small piece off from
break off (a piece from a whole)
break a piece from a whole