break into

break into
phrasal verb [transitive]
Word forms "break into":
present tense I/you/we/they break into he/she/it breaks into present participle breaking into past tense broke into past participle broken into
1) break into something to enter a building by force, especially in order to steal things

A house in Brecon Place was broken into last night.

2) break into something to start doing something
break into a run/trot/gallop etc:

The children saw the sea and broke into a run.

break into a smile:

We watched her puzzled face break gently into a smile.

break into laughter/applause/song:

I almost expected him to break into song.

break into a sweat:

My legs were shaking with exhaustion, but Phil hadn't even broken into a sweat.

3) break into something to start to have success in your career or an area of activity

We see the deal with China as a way of breaking into markets in the Far East.

It's always been his ambition to break into broadcasting.

4) break into something to start to use an amount of money

We had to break into our savings to pay the fine.

5) break into something to interrupt someone when they are talking or thinking

Christopher's voice broke into her thoughts.


English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • break into — (something) 1. to begin suddenly to do something. Then he broke into a run and we just couldn t catch him. Onishi broke into sobs and covered his eyes with a handkerchief. 2. to enter a place by using force. His apartment has been broken into… …   New idioms dictionary

  • break into — ► break into burst forth into (laughter, song, or faster movement). Main Entry: ↑break …   English terms dictionary

  • break into — break a door or window to enter, break and enter    I couldn t believe that my son would break into a store …   English idioms

  • break into — index infringe, interpose, loot, penetrate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • break into — verb 1. express or utter spontaneously (Freq. 4) break into a yodel break into a song break into tears • Hypernyms: ↑utter, ↑emit, ↑let out, ↑let loose …   Useful english dictionary

  • break into — 1) PHRASAL VERB If someone breaks into a building, they get into it by force. [V P n] There was no one nearby who might see him trying to break into the house... [V P n] In this country a house is broken into every 24 seconds. 2) PHRASAL VERB If… …   English dictionary

  • break into — phrasal 1. to begin with or as if with a sudden throwing off of restraint < broke into tears > < face breaking into a smile > < the horse breaks into a gallop > 2. to make entry or entrance into < broke into the house > < break into …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • break into — phr verb Break into is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑face, ↑intruder, ↑thief, ↑vandal Break into is used with these nouns as the object: ↑applause, ↑car, ↑conversation, ↑flat, ↑gallop, ↑grin, ↑ …   Collocations dictionary

  • break into something — break into (something) 1. to begin suddenly to do something. Then he broke into a run and we just couldn t catch him. Onishi broke into sobs and covered his eyes with a handkerchief. 2. to enter a place by using force. His apartment has been… …   New idioms dictionary

  • break into a run — phrase to start running He walked slowly around the corner and then broke into a run. Thesaurus: to runsynonym Main entry: run …   Useful english dictionary

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