break out of the routine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "break out of the routine" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the desire to change one's regular habits or patterns, often to seek new experiences or excitement. Example: "After months of monotony, I decided it was time to break out of the routine and try something new."

✓ Grammatically correct

I challenged myself to break out of the routine of home: cleaning, cooking, charging around.

These changes will include new safeguards to prevent the overlap of daytime playlist between the two stations and with BBC Radio 1. David Liddiment, the BBC trustee who led the review, said: "Radio 2 has a large audience who clearly love its output, but the review showed it must break out of the routine with its programming, in particular to be more distinctive during peak time.

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I challenged myself to break out of the routine of home: cleaning, cooking, charging around.

The Guardian - Arts

These changes will include new safeguards to prevent the overlap of daytime playlist between the two stations and with BBC Radio 1. David Liddiment, the BBC trustee who led the review, said: "Radio 2 has a large audience who clearly love its output, but the review showed it must break out of the routine with its programming, in particular to be more distinctive during peak time.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Monday is lobster night at Jar, when Suzanne Tracht breaks out of routine with a different three-course menu every week.

Los Angeles Times

I'm really not religious or spiritual or anything (I worship money, drugs, bitches, and my nuts), but I decided I was a Protestant just so I could break out of the monotonous routine for a bit.

Vice

WOW provided a great way to break out of that routine and to bond with others". A final report on the WOW! Editing Group project can be found here.

University of California, Berkeley

At a joint press conference on Tuesday, the French foreign minister, Lauren Fabius, and his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, announced that they would give the old central European alliance "a new push" and try to "break out of the old routine and go a bit further than we have dared to do it in the past".

The Guardian

Still, weeks of shooting behind bars has Robbins itching to break out of this routine.

Los Angeles Times

"Roofing really gets under your skin, and helps you to break out of the daily routine," Mr. Yermakov said, explaining that he appreciates the solitude of the roofs, far from the hectic streets of Moscow, which has more than 10 million people.

The New York Times

Anything to break out of the dull old routine you've both been stuck in since forever.

Vice

These are all ways to break out of the monotony of your routine and press the reset button on your stress levels!

HuffPost

In the last three and half years, there has been only one brief time when he seemed at all interested in breaking out of this routine, and that was last spring, when he dropped out of the Senate race.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "break out of the routine" when you want to emphasize a deliberate effort to escape monotony and experience something new. For a more direct approach, consider alternatives like "try something different".

Common error

Don't assume that "break out of the routine" requires a drastic life change. It can involve small, manageable steps like exploring a new hobby or taking a different route to work.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "break out of the routine" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating a deliberate action to disrupt an established pattern or habit. According to Ludwig, the phrase is both correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

16%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "break out of the routine" is a versatile and widely used expression that encourages individuals to seek new experiences and escape the monotony of daily life. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, from news articles to personal blogs. It is a useful phrase for expressing a desire for change and novelty. Consider related phrases like "try something different" or "escape the daily grind" to refine your message, and always remember that even small changes can help you "break out of the routine".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get out of a rut

Focuses on escaping a stagnant and unfulfilling situation.

try something different

Offers a general suggestion to deviate from the norm.

shake up your habits

Focuses on disrupting established patterns and customs.

step outside your comfort zone

Focuses on attempting new things that may initially feel challenging or intimidating.

escape the daily grind

Emphasizes escaping from the tedious aspects of daily work.

vary your activities

Emphasizes the importance of diversification in day-to-day life.

inject novelty into your life

Highlights the addition of new and interesting experiences.

introduce change

Suggests incorporating alterations into one's lifestyle.

break the mold

Suggests challenging conventions and norms.

alter your lifestyle

Signifies a complete change of one's ways of living.

FAQs

What does "break out of the routine" mean?

The phrase "break out of the routine" means to escape from a monotonous or habitual pattern of behavior, typically to seek new experiences or excitement.

How can I use "break out of the routine" in a sentence?

You might say, "After working from home for a year, I decided it was time to "break out of the routine" and travel."

What can I say instead of "break out of the routine"?

You can use alternatives like "escape the daily grind", "try something different" or "get out of a rut" depending on the context.

Is "break out of routine" or "break out of the routine" correct?

"Break out of the routine" is the correct and more common phrasing. Omitting "the" changes the meaning slightly and is less idiomatic.