break open
To make a breakthrough on a mystery or problemTo make a breakthrough on a mystery or problem; to cause a breakthrough to be made.
» The wooden box had been broken open.
Die Holzkiste war aufgebrochen worden.
Meaning
2 senses(idiomatic)To make a breakthrough on a mystery or problem; to cause a breakthrough to be made.
I think I broke this case open.
The new evidence has broken this case open.
(ambitransitive)Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see break, open.
Lacking a corkscrew, he broke the bottle open.
- open with force
- come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
- erupt or intensify suddenly
Examples
8 sentencesThe wooden box had been broken open.
deDie Holzkiste war aufgebrochen worden.
I tried to break the door open, which I found impossible.
deIch habe versucht, die Tür aufzubrechen, was sich aber als unmöglich erwies.
We had to break open the door.
ruНам пришлось взломать дверь.
deWir mussten die Tür aufbrechen.
The door was broken open.
We tried with might and main to break open the door.
deWir versuchten mit aller Kraft, die Tür aufzubrechen.
Forms
breaks open, breaking open, broke open, broken open| Base form | break open · to break open |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | breaks open |
| Present participle | breaking open |
| Past simple | broke open |
| Past participle | broken open |
irregular · Lesson
Synonyms
8 synonymsWord family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle