1. Home
2. Idioms
3. break in

break in

---

---

break in

 (on someone)

1. to burst into a place and violate some one's privacy. The police broke in on him at his home and arrested him. They needed a warrant to break in.

2. to interrupt someone's conversation. (See also break in (on something).) If you need to talk to me, just break in on me. Feel free to break in if it's an emergency.

See also: break

break in

(on something) to interrupt something; to intrude upon something. (See also break in (on someone).) I didn't mean to break in on your discussion. Please don't break in on us just now. This is important.

See also: break

break in (to something or some place)

to force entry into a place criminally; to enter some place forcibly for the purpose of robbery or other illegal acts. The thugs broke into the liquor store. They broke in and took all the money.

See also: break

break someone in

to train someone to do a new job; to supervise someone who is learning to do a new job. Who will break the new employee in? I have to break in a new receptionist.

See also: break

break something in

 

1. Lit. to crush or batter something to pieces; to break something down. Why are you breaking the door in? Here's the key! Who broke in the door?

2. Fig. to use a new device until it runs well and smoothly; to wear shoes, perhaps a little at a time, until they feel comfortable. I can't drive at high speed until I break this car in. I want to go out this weekend and break in the car. The new shoes hurt her feet because they were not yet broken in.

See also: break

break in

1. to interrupt During the day they break in about every half hour to give the latest news.

2. to enter illegally While she was out somebody broke in and stole everything she had.

See also: break

break in something

also break something in

to make something comfortable by using it They're great shoes because I've already broken them in.

See also: break

break in

1. Enter by force, as in The thieves broke in through the back door. [Mid-1500s]Also see break into.

2. Also, break in on. Interrupt or disturb something unexpectedly, as in His assistant broke in with the bad news just as we were ready to sign the agreement, or He broke in on our private talks. [Mid-1600s]

3. Train or instruct someone in a new job or enterprise, as in Every semester she had to break in a new teaching assistant. [Late 1700s]

4. Loosen or soften with use, as in It takes a while to break in a pair of new shoes.

See also: break

break in

v.

1. To enter a place forcibly or illegally: While we were out of the house, a thief tried to break in.

2. To interrupt a conversation or discussion: We were talking about the weather when my friend broke in and said it was time to leave.

3. To loosen or soften something with use: I need to break in my new boots before I take any long hikes.

4. To train or domesticate an animal: Be sure to break in your puppies at an early age. The horses were very good to ride once the trainer had broken them in.

5. To accustom someone to a new task: The sergeant broke in the new recruits to the army way of life. It was hard to keep up with the work, but my colleagues broke me in gradually.

See also: break