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.

Those who remain, like 59-year-old Ihor, only break cover to find the bare essentials.

From BBC • Dec. 24, 2024

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

But a midranking officer ignored part of the order and allowed members of the unit to break cover behind a barricade.

From New York Times • Jan. 29, 2022

But will any break cover over the weekend, particularly if there are any new revelations?

From The Guardian • Jan. 15, 2022

It is as difficult to get them outside the inner ramparts as it is to make an old fox break cover.

From Diary of the Besieged Resident in Paris by Labouchere, Henry

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