break out

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to begin or arise suddenly

   panic broke out

2. (intr, adverb) to make an escape, esp from prison or confinement

3. (of the skin) to erupt (in a rash, pimples, etc)

4. (tr, adverb) to launch or introduce (a new product)

5. (tr, adverb) to open and start using

   break out the champagne

noun

1. an escape, esp from prison or confinement

2. 1. a great success, esp following relatively disappointing performance

   2. ( as modifier )

      a breakout year

Idioms and Phrases

Develop suddenly and forcefully. For example, A fire broke out last night , or He broke out in a sweat . [ a.d. 1000]

Be affected with a skin eruption, such as a rash or boils, as in A teenager's face often breaks out in pimples . [c. 1300]

Prepare something for consumption, action, or use, as in Let's break out the champagne , or It's such a fine day—let's break out the fishing rods . [Early 1800s]

break out of . Force out by breaking; also, escape from confinement. For example, The hurricane broke the glass out of all the windows , or He broke out of prison but was soon apprehended . [Early 1600s]

Isolate a portion of a body of data, as in Please break out the sales figures from the quarterly report . [Mid-1900s]

Related Words

• appear 
• arise 
• begin 
• commence 
• erupt 
• explode 
• occur 
• set in 
• start