break in — interrupt
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutraloccasional
to interrupt someone while they are speaking or doing something.
Say it like a native
Textbook She interjected while he was still speaking.
Native She broke in while he was talking.
'Break in' is the natural verb for cutting into someone's speech; 'interject' is formal.
Pattern: break in (on someone/something)
In use
- Sorry to break in, but I have something important to add.communication
- In group discussions, it’s important not to break in when someone else is speaking, as it can seem rude.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Sorry to break in your conversation.
✓ Sorry to break in on your conversation.
'Break IN ON' a conversation; without 'on' it sounds like the burglary sense.
Common collocations
break in (on)— on, suddenly, to say, with a question
Don't confuse it
This sense is about interrupting, not entering a place.
Related
- break in (enter illegally) — Another meaning of 'break in' is 'enter illegally'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.