break into
verb1
Idiomatic To enter illegally or by force, especially in order to commit a crime.
- Somebody broke into his car and stole his tools and CDs.
- Hackers broke into the bank's computer system and stole customer data.
1 more example
- His house was broken into only last week.
2
Idiomatic To open or begin to use.
- I finally broke into the second package of cookies.
3
Idiomatic To successfully enter a profession or business.
- He hopes to break into show business.
4
To begin suddenly.
- The horse broke into a gallop as they neared the barn.
- I just broke into tears while talking to my mom.
4 more examples
- She broke into song.
- She broke into a smile, wrenching herself away from our head physician.
- Now, sometimes in my sorrow shut, Or breaking into song by fits; Alone, alone, to where he sits, The Shadow cloak’d from head to foot Who keeps the keys of all the creeds, I wander, often falling lame, […]1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXIII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 39:
- Then, as usual, the sheep broke into "Four legs good, two legs bad!" and the momentary awkwardness was smoothed over.1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC:
- Derived terms
- break into a run