break out

British  

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

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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

break out Idioms  

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

2. 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]

3. 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]

4. 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]

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

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Example Sentences

In Darnold’s case, he didn’t break out until playing on his fourth and fifth teams in Minnesota and Seattle.

From The Wall Street Journal

He breaks out a Violet Crumble and offers me a piece.

From Literature

Quarterback Drake Maye broke out as an MVP contender—and, like Brady, has the team in the Super Bowl in his second season.

From The Wall Street Journal

Patients and staff at Southampton's main hospital have faced a day of disruption after a fire broke out earlier.

From BBC

Neither deal is expected to make a big difference if a conflict breaks out in the coming weeks, however.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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