Begin the holiday by going to pieces? (5,2)
I believe the answer is:
break up
'begin' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to change as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'holiday by going to pieces?' is the wordplay.
'holiday' becomes 'break' (break can mean a holiday or time off).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'going to pieces?' becomes 'up' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'break'+'up'='BREAK-UP'
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for break up that I've seen before include "Bring to an end - or shatter" , "ahead after run of successful pots" , "A split" , "Separate" , "Finish school or a relationship" .)