break out
1. to burst forth suddenly, as with a fire, a riot, giggling, shouting, etc. A fire broke out in the belfry. A round of giggling broke out when the teacher tripped.
2. Sl. to leave. It's late, man. Time to break out. We broke out a little after midnight.
3. Go to break out (in pimples); break out (of something); break out (with something).
break out (in pimples)
to erupt with something such as a rash, a cold sweat, or pimples. After being in the woods, I broke out in a rash. I think it's poison ivy. I hate to break out like that. Whenever I eat chocolate, I break out in pimples the next day.
break out
(of something) 1. Lit. to escape from something, often by destructive means, especially from prison. The convicts plotted to break out of prison. You don't have the guts to break out of jail!
2. Fig. to escape from something in one's life that is too confining. I was 16 years old when I finally broke out of my rigid upbringing. She just couldn't break out of her old patterns of behavior.
break out (with a rash)
[for the skin] to erupt with pimples, hives, or lesions, from a specific disease such as measles, chicken pox, rubella, etc. Nick and Dan broke out with chicken pox. They both broke out at the same time.
break something out (of something)
to remove something from something else by force. Carefully, she broke the gemstone out of the side of the rock face. She broke the gemstone out carefully.
break out
1. to begin suddenly and with force
A fight broke out in the dance club. Usage notes: usually used to describe a fight, argument, or war
2. to escape from a place or a situation
Two inmates broke out of prison and are still at large. Usage notes: often used with of, as in the example
3. to suddenly have spots on the skin Detergents make the skin on my hands break out.
break out something
also break something out to make food or drink available Break out the champagne and drink to the couple's health!
break out
1. Develop suddenly and forcefully. For example, A fire broke out last night, or He broke out in a sweat. [a.d. 1000]
2. Be affected with a skin eruption, such as a rash or boils, as in A teenager's face often breaks out in pimples. [c. 1300]
3. Prepare something for consumption, action, or use, as in Let's break out the champagne, or It's such a fine day-let's break out the fishing rods. [Early 1800s]
4. break out of. Force out by breaking; also, escape from confinement. For example, The hurricane broke the glass out of all the windows, or He broke out of prison but was soon apprehended. [Early 1600s]
5. Isolate a portion of a body of data, as in Please break out the sales figures from the quarterly report. [Mid-1900s]
break out
v.1. To escape confinement: The prisoners dug a tunnel under the prison walls and broke out. He broke out from jail but was immediately caught.
2. To aid something or someone in escaping confinement: The gangsters broke their comrade out of jail.
3. To develop suddenly and forcefully; erupt: Fighting broke out in the street when the two gangs came together.
4. To start doing something suddenly or spontaneously: We were quietly eating dinner when suddenly the kids broke out laughing. The marching soldiers broke out in song.
5. To bring something forth: The enemy is attacking; break out the rifles! Let's break out the champagne and celebrate.
6. To become affected with pimples, hives, acne, or similar skin rash: Wash your face well in the evening or you'll break out. I accidentally walked through poison ivy and broke out in a bad rash.