break-in
an illegal entry into a home, car, office, etc.
Origin of break-in
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use break-in in a sentence
You know, like Nixon tried to shunt responsibility for the break-in on to Liddy, Sturgis, et al.
It’s Time to Get More Women in the NFL Boardroom | Robert Silverman | September 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFor Nixon, it was the Watergate break-in, designed to filch political plans of his 1972 foes.
The McDaniel campaign has strongly denied any link to the break-in or to Kelly.
Influential Conservative Behind Housing Complaint Targeting GOP Senator | Ben Jacobs | May 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut within hours it was hacked and the break-in code was released.
Meet Graham Smith, SnapChat’s 16-Year-Old Nemesis | Nina Strochlic | January 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNixon never needed help from the Watergate break-in to win the 1972 race, in which he only lost one state.
Before Bridgegate Punished an Enemy, Christie's Office Rewarded Friends | Sam Kleiner | January 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
It only needed the break-in of the Patrol to complete the illusion of action-fiction—crime variety.
Plague Ship | Andre NortonA young ox is generally more difficult to break-in than an old one: I do not know why.
The Art of Travel | Francis GaltonThey also breed and break-in camels, which they sell in the Tiflis market.
The Human Race | Louis FiguierThat awk'ard—why, he can't finish off a glass rod without break-in' it, or burning himself!
Joyce's Investments | Fannie E. Newberry
British Dictionary definitions for break in
(sometimes foll by on) to interrupt
(intr) to enter a house, etc, illegally, esp by force
(tr) to accustom (a person or animal) to normal duties or practice
(tr) to use or wear (shoes, new equipment, etc) until comfortable or running smoothly
(tr) Australian and NZ to bring (new land) under cultivation
the illegal entering of a building, esp by thieves
(as modifier): the break-in plans
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with break-in
Enter by force, as in The thieves broke in through the back door. [Mid-1500s] Also see break into.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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