break out
[verb]
Synonyms: begin, appear, arise, commence, emerge, happen, occur, set in, spring up, start

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English Thesaurus: escape, get away, break free/break away, flee, get out, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

break out phrasal verb (see also break)

1. if something unpleasant such as a fire, fight, or war breaks out, it starts to happen:
I was still living in London when the war broke out.
Does everyone know what to do if a fire breaks out?
Fighting broke out between demonstrators and the police. ⇒ outbreak

2. to escape from a prison
break out of
Three men have broken out of a top-security jail. ⇒ breakout

3. to change the way you live because you feel bored
break out of
She felt the need to break out of her daily routine.

4. break out in spots/a rash/a sweat etc if you break out in spots etc, they appear on your skin:
I broke out in a painful rash.
My whole body broke out in a sweat.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

escape to leave a place when someone is trying to catch you or stop you, or when there is a dangerous situation:
The thief escaped through an upstairs window.
She managed to escape from her attacker and call the police.
get away to escape from someone who is chasing you, especially when there is no chance that you will be caught. Get away is more informal than escape:
The robbers got away but left plenty of clues at the scene.
Don’t let him get away!
break free/break away to escape from someone who is holding you:
She broke free and started running.
flee written to leave somewhere very quickly in order to escape from danger:
Many people were forced to flee the country.
The two men fled before police arrived.
get out to escape from a building or room:
I was locked in the room and couldn’t get out.
break out to escape from prison:
The jail is so secure that no one has ever broken out of it.
abscond formal to escape from a prison or institution where you are supposed to stay:
Three prisoners who absconded have still not been found.
He absconded from a psychiatric hospital.
plan an escape
We planned our escape carefully and waited for just the right moment.
prevent an escape (also foil an escape formal) (=stop an escape)
Walker grabbed her firmly by the wrist, preventing any chance of escape.
make your escape formal (=to escape)
I had to make my escape before the guards returned.
an escape attempt/bid
She made several unsuccessful escape attempts before finally getting away.
an escape plan
You should have an escape plan in the event of a fire.
an escape route
All their escape routes had been blocked.
have a narrow escape (=to only just avoid danger or difficulties)
The team had a narrow escape from relegation last season.
have a lucky escape
We had a lucky escape when a tree crashed through the ceiling.
have a miraculous escape (=be extremely lucky to escape)
Ellie had miraculous escape after a firework exploded in her hand.
a means of escape (=a way of escaping)
She searched in vain for a means of escape.
a chance/hope/possibility of escape
The river offered our only hope of escape.
make good your escape literary (=to succeed in escaping)
Dillinger handcuffed the deputy to the desk and made good his escape.
sb’s escape route from something (=someone’s only chance of getting away from a bad situation)
Bankruptcy offered his only escape route from mounting debt.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

start to begin doing something:
I’m starting a new job next week.
It’s time we started.
begin to start doing something. Begin is more formal than start, and is used especially in written English:
He began to speak.
The orchestra began playing.
Shall we begin?
commence formal to start doing something:
The company will commence drilling next week.
Work was commenced on the next power station.
get down to something to finally start doing something, especially your work:
Come on, Sam – it’s time you got down to some homework.
We’d better get down to business.
set off to start a journey:
What time do you have to set off in the morning?
I usually set off for work at about 8.30.
set out to start a long journey:
The ship set out from Portsmouth on July 12th.
embark on something especially written to start something, especially something new, difficult, or exciting:
The Law Society has embarked on a major programme of reform.
Jamaica was embarking on a decade of musical creativity.
resume formal to start doing something again after stopping it or being interrupted:
Normal train services will be resumed on April 5th.
Trade was resumed after the end of the war.
get cracking informal to start doing something or going somewhere:
I think we should get cracking straightaway.
start/begin to begin:
What time does the film start?
open to start being shown to the public – used about a play, show, or exhibition:
Lloyd Webber’s new musical opened in London last week.
A major exhibition of her work will open in New York in November.
get under way to start happening or being done – used especially about something that is likely to last a long time:
Construction work is getting under way on a new train network.
Discussions concerning the plan got under way on April 2.
break out to start happening – used especially about a fire, a fight, war, or a disease:
Police were called in when fighting broke out in the crowd.
The blaze broke out on the third floor of the hotel.
kick off informal to start – used especially about a football game or a meeting:
The match is due to kick off this afternoon at Wembley Stadium.
What time will the celebrations kick off?
a good/great start
A 3-0 win is a good start for the team.
a flying start (=a very good start)
The appeal got off to a flying start at the weekend when the group held a raffle.
a promising start (=a good start that makes success seem likely)
Her teacher says she's made a promising start in learning Spanish.
a bad/poor/disastrous start
Things got off to a bad start when two people turned up late.
a rocky/shaky start (=a rather bad start)
After a shaky start, they managed two wins in five matches.
a disappointing start
He accepted full responsibility for the club’s disappointing start to the season.
a slow start
Work got off to a very slow start because of bad weather.
an auspicious/inauspicious start (=one that makes it seem likely that something will be good or bad)
His second term in office has got off to an extremely inauspicious start.
an early/late start
It was long trip so we had planned an early start.
get off to a good/bad etc start
On your first day at work, you want to get off to a good start.
make a good/bad/early etc start
He made a flying start at college, but then he didn't manage to keep it up.
have a good/bad etc start
We’ve had a disappointing start but we are hoping to improve.
beginning the first part of something such as a story, event, or period of time:
The beginning of the movie is very violent.
Let’s go back to the beginning.
commencement formal the beginning of something – used especially in official contexts:
the commencement of the academic year
the commencement of the contract
origin the point from which something starts to exist:
He wrote a book about the origins of the universe.
The tradition has its origins in medieval times.
the onset of something the time when something bad begins, such as illness, old age, or cold weather:
the onset of winter
An active lifestyle can delay the onset of many diseases common to aging.
dawn literary the beginning of an important period of time in history:
People have worshipped gods since the dawn of civilization.
birth the beginning of something important that will change many people’s lives:
the birth of democracy in South Africa
the birth of the environmental movement

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

break out
break out (something)
to make food or drink available.
Break out the champagne and drink to the couple's health!

1.
to begin suddenly and with force.
A fight broke out in the dance club.

Usage notes: usually used to describe a fight, argument, or war
2.
to escape from a place or a situation.
Two inmates broke out of prison and are still at large.

Usage notes: often used with of, as in the example
3.
to suddenly have spots on the skin.
Detergents make the skin on my hands break out.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

break out something
break out (something)
to make food or drink available.
Break out the champagne and drink to the couple's health!

1.
to begin suddenly and with force.
A fight broke out in the dance club.

Usage notes: usually used to describe a fight, argument, or war
2.
to escape from a place or a situation.
Two inmates broke out of prison and are still at large.

Usage notes: often used with of, as in the example
3.
to suddenly have spots on the skin.
Detergents make the skin on my hands break out.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

break out
v.
1. To begin showing a rash or other skin disorder.
■ Often used with "with".
He broke out with scarlet fever.
2. To speak or act suddenly and violently.
He broke out laughing.
She broke out, "That is not so!"
3. To begin and become noticeable.
Fire broke out after the earthquake.
War broke out in 1812.
Compare: FLARE UP.
4. informal To bring out; open and show.
When word of the victory came, people began breaking out their flags.
When Mr. Carson's first son was born, he broke out the cigars he had been saving.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲