What Does “Break sb in” Mean?
“Break sb in” means to help someone get used to a new job, activity, or situation by giving them training or experience. It often refers to making someone comfortable or skilled in a new role.
Introduction
The phrase “Break sb in” is a common English phrasal verb used when someone is introduced to a new task or environment and needs time to adjust. The break sb in meaning usually involves teaching or training a person so they can perform well or feel comfortable. For example, a manager might break a new employee in by showing them how to do their work. This phrase can also apply to breaking in shoes or animals, but when used with people, it focuses on the learning process. Understanding how to use “break sb in” will help you describe training or introduction situations clearly and naturally in English.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: break sb in (break somebody in)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To train or get someone used to a new job or activity
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Break sb in” is a separable transitive phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (sb = somebody) between the verb and the particle, or after the particle.
- break somebody in
- break in somebody
Both forms are correct, but the first is more common.
Examples of patterns:
- Subject + break + somebody + in + (new role/activity)
- Subject + break + in + somebody + (new role/activity)
How to Use “Break sb in”?
You use “break sb in” when talking about training or helping a person adapt to something new. It often refers to jobs, sports, or roles where experience is needed. For example, a coach might break a player in during practice, or a company might break a new employee in during their first week.
You can also use it in casual conversation to explain how someone becomes familiar with something by practice or experience.
Examples
- Our manager will break you in during your first week at the office.
- It takes time to break new employees in before they can work independently.
- She was broken in by an experienced teacher before leading the class alone.
- The coach broke him in slowly to avoid pressure.
- Break sb in in a sentence: They broke the new intern in by assigning small tasks first.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I break in him in the new job.
Correct: I break him in at the new job. - Incorrect: She was break in by the team.
Correct: She was broken in by the team.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “train up,” “show sb the ropes,” and “ease sb in.”
- Train up: Focuses more on teaching skills formally.
- Show sb the ropes: Means to teach the basics, usually informal.
- Ease sb in: Emphasizes a gradual introduction to something new.
“Break sb in” often combines training with helping someone adapt through experience, making it slightly broader.
Common Collocations
- break a new employee in
- break a player in
- break an intern in
- break a trainee in
- break someone in slowly
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of break sb in:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: How do you feel about starting your new job?
Tom: A bit nervous. I hope they break me in well.
Anna: Don’t worry. They usually break new people in slowly. You’ll learn everything step by step.
Tom: That sounds good. I’m ready to learn!
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “break sb in”:
- The company plans to ____________ the new hires over two weeks.
- She was ____________ by her mentor before leading the project.
- We need to ____________ the trainee carefully to avoid mistakes.
FAQs
- Q: Can “break sb in” be used for animals?
A: Yes, but it usually means training or taming an animal, like a horse. - Q: Is “break sb in” formal or informal?
A: It is mostly informal but common in everyday English. - Q: Can I say “break me in”?
A: Yes, you can use it in the passive or active form depending on the sentence. - Q: What is the difference between “break in” and “break sb in”?
A: “Break in” alone usually means to enter a place illegally or to make something comfortable, while “break sb in” means to train a person. - Q: How long does it usually take to break someone in?
A: It depends on the job or activity, but it can take days to weeks.
