What Does โBurst through sthโ Mean?
โBurst through sthโ means to break suddenly and forcefully through something, often a physical barrier or obstacle.
Introduction
The phrase burst through sth is commonly used to describe an action where someone or something breaks through a barrier with energy or force. It can refer to physical situations, like breaking through a door, or more abstract ideas, such as overcoming obstacles. Understanding the burst through sth meaning helps learners use the phrase naturally in different contexts. It is a useful phrasal verb in everyday English for describing sudden, powerful movement or progress.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: burst through something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to break forcefully through a barrier or obstacle
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โBurst through sthโ is a transitive phrasal verb and is inseparable, meaning the object (something) always follows the verb phrase directly.
Structure: burst through + object (sth)
Example: She burst through the door.
How to Use โBurst through sthโ?
Use โburst through sthโ when describing someone or something breaking suddenly through a barrier or obstacle. It is often used in physical contexts but can also be used metaphorically.
- Physical: The dog burst through the fence.
- Metaphorical: The company burst through the competition to become number one.
Examples
- The crowd burst through the gates after the concert ended.
- Lightning burst through the dark clouds during the storm.
- She burst through the crowd to catch the bus on time.
- His ideas burst through the usual way of thinking.
- The children burst through the classroom door excitedly.
Here is burst through sth in a sentence: The athlete burst through the final barrier to win the race.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She burst the door through.
- Correct: She burst through the door.
- Incorrect: They burst through quickly it.
- Correct: They burst through it quickly.
Differences / Synonyms
Burst through sth vs. Break through sth: Both mean to pass forcefully through a barrier, but โbreak throughโ can also mean to make progress in a non-physical sense more often.
Burst through sth vs. Run through sth: โRun throughโ means to pass quickly but does not imply breaking a barrier.
Burst through sth is stronger and more sudden than โpush through.โ
Common Collocations
- Burst through the door
- Burst through the wall
- Burst through the crowd
- Burst through the gates
- Burst through the barrier
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of burst through sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Did you see how the kids burst through the school gates this morning?
Ben: Yes! They were so excited to start the holiday.
Anna: It looked like they couldnโt wait to get outside.
Ben: Exactly. They just burst through the gates like a wave.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase:
The dog ________ the fence to chase the ball.
- a) burst through
- b) ran through
- c) pushed under
- d) walked around
FAQs
- Q: Is โburst through sthโ formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Q: Can โburst throughโ be used metaphorically?
A: Yes, it can describe overcoming obstacles or making sudden progress.
- Q: What is the difference between โburst throughโ and โbreak throughโ?
A: โBurst throughโ implies sudden force, while โbreak throughโ often refers to progress or breakthrough.
- Q: Can โburst through sthโ be separated?
A: No, the object always comes after โburst through.โ
- Q: Is โsthโ always a physical barrier?
A: Usually, but it can also be abstract, like barriers in life or work.
