What Does “Break sth out” Mean?
“Break sth out” means to suddenly start using or doing something, often something that was kept hidden or stored. It can also mean to develop or experience something quickly, like a rash or fight.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “break sth out” has several related meanings in English. It usually refers to the sudden start of an action or event, such as breaking out a bottle of wine for a celebration or breaking out in a rash after touching something. Understanding the break sth out meaning helps learners use it correctly in different contexts. This phrasal verb is common in both spoken and written English, making it useful for everyday conversations and formal communication.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: break something out
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1
- Short meaning: to start using or experiencing something suddenly
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Break sth out” is a separable phrasal verb. This means the object (something) can come between “break” and “out” or after “out.”
- Break something out
- Break out something
Example:
- We decided to break the champagne out.
- We decided to break out the champagne.
How to Use “Break sth out”?
Use “break sth out” when you want to talk about suddenly starting to use or show something. It often involves objects like food, drinks, or items kept for special occasions. It can also describe the sudden appearance of symptoms or events like fights or wars.
Common contexts include:
- Celebrations (breaking out wine or snacks)
- Sudden physical reactions (breaking out in a rash)
- Unexpected events (breaking out a fight)
Examples
- They broke out the old board games during the family gathering.
- After the hike, I broke out in sweat because it was very hot.
- The soldiers broke out a surprise attack at dawn.
- We should break out the special dessert for the party.
- She broke out the new dress for her birthday dinner.
Here is break sth out in a sentence: “Let’s break out the champagne to celebrate your promotion.”
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I break outed the snacks for guests.
Correct: I broke out the snacks for guests. - Incorrect: She breaks out in a rash last week.
Correct: She broke out in a rash last week. - Incorrect: We break outed a fight during the game.
Correct: We broke out a fight during the game.
Differences / Synonyms
“Break sth out” is similar to:
- Bring sth out: Means to introduce or launch something new, often products or ideas. Example: “The company brought out a new phone.”
- Break out (without object): Means to suddenly start happening, like a fire or war. Example: “A fire broke out in the kitchen.”
The key difference is that “break sth out” requires an object and usually refers to using or displaying something suddenly, while “break out” alone often means an event starts suddenly.
Common Collocations
- Break out the wine
- Break out the snacks
- Break out the champagne
- Break out the dress
- Break out the supplies
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of break sth out:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: It’s your birthday today! Should we celebrate?
Ben: Yes! Let’s break out the cake and drinks.
Anna: Great idea! I’ll break out the wine I saved for a special occasion.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “break out”:
- They decided to ________ the champagne after the game.
- After touching the plant, she ________ in a rash.
- We should ________ the decorations for the party.
FAQs
- Q: Can “break sth out” be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, the past tense is “broke out.” - Q: Is “break sth out” separable?
A: Yes, the object can come between or after the verb and particle. - Q: What is a common meaning of “break out” without an object?
A: It means something starts suddenly, like a fight or fire. - Q: Can “break sth out” mean to show emotions?
A: It usually refers to physical actions or events, not emotions.
