burst into

Idioms  

1. Also, . Break out into sudden activity. For example, burst into flames means “break out in a fire,” as in This dry woodpile may well burst into flames . A version of this term, which dates from the 16th century, was used figuratively by John Milton: “Fame is the spur ... But the fair guerdon [reward] when we hope to find, and think to burst out into sudden blaze” ( Lycidas , 1637).

2. Also, burst out . Give sudden utterance to. For example, , etc. mean “begin suddenly to weep, laugh, sing,” and so on, as in When she saw him, she burst into tears , or I burst out laughing when I saw their outfits , or When they brought in the cake, we all burst into song . These terms have been so used since the late 1300s.

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Example Sentences

The Fulham attackers then burst into the large space in midfield when the pass from the centre-back was on.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Dior’s J’Adore Intense captures the scent of solar flowers — jasmine, ylang-ylang, rose, violet — right before they burst into fruit.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Budimir burst into the area and went down under a challenge from Courtois.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

Just over a month later, secrets of another element of Wasserman’s personal life burst into the open.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

At this point, the German ambassador burst into tears, and Sazonov began to weep too.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman