Meaning trap
break into
start suddenly
to suddenly begin doing something, especially an activity or emotion
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to suddenly begin doing something, especially an activity or emotion
Another meaning of 'break into' is 'enter illegally'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- When he heard the joke, he broke into laughter.communication
- Sometimes, when I’m nervous, I break into a sweat even if the room isn’t hot.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: break into + noun (activity or emotion)
WrongHe broke into to laugh.
RightHe broke into laughter. / He burst out laughing.
'Break into + noun' (tears, laughter, a run) — not 'into to + verb'.
Patternbreak into + noun (activity or emotion)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Break into tears/a run/a smile' is the natural way to say 'suddenly start'; the paraphrase is flat.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
break into + sudden actiontearsa runa smilesong
Don't confuse it
Different from 'break out', which means something starts suddenly but is often used for negative events like fires or wars.
Related
- break into (enter illegally) — Another meaning of 'break into' is 'enter illegally'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.