Meaning trap

break into

enter illegally

to enter a building, car, or other place by force, usually to steal something

phrasal verbB1common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

enter illegally

to enter a building, car, or other place by force, usually to steal something

break into (start suddenly)

Another meaning of 'break into' is 'start suddenly'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

Someone tried to break into my car last night, but the alarm scared them away.crime
If I saw someone trying to break into a house, I would immediately call the police because it’s a serious crime.IELTS speaking

Pattern: break into + noun

WrongThey broke into to the warehouse.

RightThey broke into the warehouse.

'Break into' already includes the direction — no extra 'to'.

Patternbreak into + noun

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff Someone forcibly gained entry to my vehicle and removed the radio.

Natural Someone broke into my car and took the radio.

'Break into' is the everyday verb; the formal version is report-speak.

Words that usually travel with it.

Not the same as 'break in', which can also mean to interrupt or to make shoes comfortable.

break into (start suddenly) — Another meaning of 'break into' is 'start suddenly'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.