housebreak
Americanverb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of housebreak
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.
See Examples For:
Thanks to this bin they’ll be easy to find when I need to put down a dropcloth, light the charcoal grill or housebreak a puppy.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 24, 2022
He would in effect housebreak them, he suggested, checking their worst instincts.
From New York Times ● Sep. 28, 2019
The task seems self-punishing, like trying to housebreak a chicken.
From The New Yorker ● Apr. 15, 2019
It takes much less time to housebreak them.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 9, 2014
Mack intended to teach her tricks and go in vaudeville and he didn’t even housebreak her.
From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck
Zandile Christmas Mafe, 49, who liked to talk politics with friends, was charged on Tuesday with arson, theft, housebreaking and possession of explosives.
From New York Times ● Jan. 4, 2022
Victoria Seaman, a Nevada assemblywoman and real estate agent who helped sponsor the new anti-squatter law, said Nevada is leading the nation in tough new housebreaking laws.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 30, 2016
The court was told Mr Dornan had more than 30 convictions and had been jailed for housebreaking in 2011.
From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2013
It has a comprehensive list of guidelines—vaccine requirements, housebreaking rules, a strict “no biting” policy—but as long as those are followed, ORI allows a wide range of animals in the office.
From BusinessWeek ● Jun. 1, 2012
She was completely spoiled now and no one thought of housebreaking her.
From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck
The dog is old and blind and has health problems that contribute to frequent accidents, but Dave also never really housebroke him and failed to mention this before moving in with me.
From Slate ● Feb. 19, 2020
“Just gotta get him housebroke, and then he’s going out West,” Steve said.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 26, 2016
Not to mention the fact that he isn’t housebroken, chews, bites like all puppies do, and we have a dog that goes absolutely insane around other dogs, getting very rough.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 22, 2022
By that, I mean nice, smart, accomplished, shares some interests, is housebroken in most of the right ways?
From Slate ● Nov. 22, 2019
Brazelton told the Times that the idea that a child should be housebroken like a puppy was “very logical – for a puppy.”
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 13, 2018
Are parents just tame animals, housebroken and desexed?
From New York Times ● Oct. 2, 2017
They were not housebroken, but for some reason Mrs. Gale thought she was doing me a favor when she dropped one in my lap for me to play with.
From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
