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break-in
[breyk-in]
break in
verb
(sometimes foll by on) to interrupt
(intr) to enter a house, etc, illegally, esp by force
(tr) to accustom (a person or animal) to normal duties or practice
(tr) to use or wear (shoes, new equipment, etc) until comfortable or running smoothly
(tr) to bring (new land) under cultivation
noun
the illegal entering of a building, esp by thieves
( as modifier )
the break-in plans
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of break-in1
Idioms and Phrases
Enter by force, as in The thieves broke in through the back door . [Mid-1500s] Also see break into .
Also, break in on . Interrupt or disturb something unexpectedly, as in His assistant broke in with the bad news just as we were ready to sign the agreement , or He broke in on our private talks . [Mid-1600s]
Train or instruct someone in a new job or enterprise, as in Every semester she had to break in a new teaching assistant . [Late 1700s]
Loosen or soften with use, as in It takes a while to break in a pair of new shoes .
Example Sentences
Mr Perks, a consultant plastic surgeon who had recently retired, was woken by the break-in and initially mistook the defendant for his son, before Brooks stabbed him in the abdomen.
Stephen McMahon invented and first deployed the device outside his Santa Monica condominium complex storage area after a break-in and a neighbor with her infant daughter was assaulted by two men.
A woman was left in a coma after a chaotic incident at the Montecito mansion of Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner last week that officials said involved a violent break-in and an attempted kidnapping.
The star told the court he also believed Combs was involved in a break-in at his home; later, Combs' lawyer emphasised that there was no evidence of Combs' involvement with either.
The break-in came two days after what authorities suspect was an attempted burglary at the Erba Markets weed dispensary in Sawtelle.
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