Meaning trap
break in
enter illegally
to enter a building or place by force, usually to steal something or without permission.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to enter a building or place by force, usually to steal something or without permission.
Another meaning of 'break in' is 'interrupt'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Someone tried to break in while we were on holiday, but the alarm scared them away.daily life
- If I ever saw someone trying to break in to a neighbor’s house, I would call the police immediately.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: break in (to something)
WrongThieves broke in the house last night.
RightThieves broke into the house last night. / Thieves broke in last night.
With a place named, use 'break INTO the house'; bare 'break in' (no object) is also fine.
Patternbreak in (to something)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Break in' is the everyday verb for a burglary entry; the formal paraphrase is police-report English.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
break in / break intothe houseovernightthrough a windowand steal
Don't confuse it
'Break in' can also mean to interrupt someone, which is a different sense.
Related
- break in (interrupt) — Another meaning of 'break in' is 'interrupt'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.