break cover

Idioms

Suddenly emerge from a hiding place, as in The shots distracted our pursuers long enough so that we could break cover and make a run for it. This term originally alluded to animals being hunted, a frequent usage in the 16th century. Now that hunting is a less common pursuit, it is used for human beings.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After we saw this prototype 500Hz gaming monitor break cover in early 2022, I didn’t think that laptop manufacturers would be quick to bring a laptop that fast to market.

From The Verge • Jul. 19, 2022

Sanchez said he had at least two photographers collecting tips and following Messi and PSG for the first shots of the family when they finally break cover from their hotel.

From Reuters • Sep. 15, 2021

The younger Mr. Zubeidi said he had not heard from his brother since his escape, nor did he expect him to break cover by returning home.

From New York Times • Sep. 7, 2021

The new car, the SF21, was not revealed at the launch - it will break cover on 10 March, two days before the start of pre-season testing in Bahrain.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2021

But I felt sure that as soon as we came near enough, and after sneaking cautiously along for some distance, the one we sought would suddenly break cover and bound off away across the veldt.

From Charge! A Story of Briton and Boer by Fenn, George Manville

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023