break into (something)

1. to begin suddenly to do something.

Then he broke into a run and we just couldn't catch him.

Onishi broke into sobs and covered his eyes with a handkerchief.

2. to enter a place by using force.

His apartment has been broken into twice, even though he had good locks on the door.

3. to illegally get access to a computer system.

Spies have been trying to break into the army's computers for years, but no one has stolen any important data yet.

4. to divide something into smaller pieces.

For the next basketball season there will be 24 teams broken into four divisions.

5. to interrupt something.

Fanny's low voice broke into Nancy's pleasant thoughts.

• rock something to its foundations
• rock the boat
• rock to its foundations
• roll around
• roll back
• roll back something
• roll back the clock
• rolled into one
• roller-coaster
• roller coaster
• roll in
• rolling in
• rolling in something
• rolling in the aisles
• roll in the hay
• roll off the tongue
• roll out
• roll out something
• roll out the red carpet
• roll out the red carpet for
• roll out the red carpet for someone
• roll over
• roll over in grave
• roll over in someone's grave
• roll over something