break out

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

  1. (intransitive) To escape, especially forcefully or defiantly.
    They broke out of prison in the middle of the night.
    The brigade succeeded in breaking out of the pocket and reunited with friendly forces.
  2. (transitive, idiomatic) To bring out, use, or present.
    Break out the bubbly and celebrate.
  3. (transitive) To separate from a bundle.
  4. (transitive) To take or force out by breaking.
    to break out a pane of glass
  5. (intransitive) To begin suddenly; to emerge in a certain condition.
    He broke out in sweat.
    He broke out in song.
    • 1922, James Joyce, chapter 13, in Ulysses:
  6. (intransitive) To suddenly get pimples, especially on one's face.



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