break into

present singular third person breaks into · participle present breaking into · past broke into · participle past broken into

1. idiomatictransitiveTo enter illegally or by force, especially in order to commit a crime.

   His house was broken into only last week.

   2 more examples

   Somebody broke into his car and stole his tools and CDs.

   Hackers broke into the bank's computer system and stole customer data.

2. idiomatictransitiveTo open or begin to use.

   I finally broke into the second package of cookies.

3. idiomatictransitiveTo successfully enter a profession or business.

   He hopes to break into show business.

4. transitiveTo begin suddenly.

   She broke into song.

   5 more examples

   The horse broke into a gallop as they neared the barn.

   I just broke into tears while talking to my mom.

   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