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.

• a latchkey kid
• a laugh a minute
• a laughing stock
• a laundry list
• a law unto
• a law unto yourself
• albatross around neck
• give the thumbs up
• give the time of day
• give the willies
• give the works
• give to on a plate
• give to on a platter
• give to on a silver platter
• give to someone on a plate
• give to someone on a platter
• give to someone on a silver platter
• give tuppence
• give up
• give up as a bad job
• give up on
• give up on someone
• give up on something
• give up something
• give up the ghost