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break into (third-person singular simple present breaks into, present participle breaking into, simple past broke into, past participle broken into)

1. (transitive, idiomatic) To enter illegally or by force, especially in order to commit a crime.

   Somebody broke into his car and stole his tools and CDs.

   Hackers broke into the bank's computer system and stole customer data.

2. (transitive, idiomatic) To open or begin to use.

   I finally broke into the second package of cookies.

3. (transitive, idiomatic) To successfully enter a profession or business.

   He hopes to break into show business.

4. (transitive) To begin suddenly.

   The horse broke into a gallop as they neared the barn.

   I just broke into tears while talking to my mom.

   She broke into a smile, wrenching herself away from our head physician.

   • 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXIII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 39:

     Now, sometimes in my sorrow shut,
     ⁠Or breaking into song by fits;
     ⁠Alone, alone, to where he sits,
     The Shadow cloak’d from head to foot
     Who keeps the keys of all the creeds,
     ⁠I wander, often falling lame, […]

   • 1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC:

     Then, as usual, the sheep broke into "Four legs good, two legs bad!" and the momentary awkwardness was smoothed over.

   • 2010, Julie Kagawa, The Iron King, Don Mills: Harlequin Teen, →ISBN, page 237:

     That struck me as hilarious, and I broke into hysterical giggles. And once I began, I couldn’t stop. I laughed until I was gasping for breath, tears streaming down my face.