burrow out of

USAGE SUMMARY

"burrow out of" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It can be used as a phrasal verb which means "to escape or get out of a place by making a passage or tunnel". For example, "The moles burrowed out of the garden and made their way to the forest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Secondly, there is no evidence of any attempt by these organisms to burrow out of their mud "prison". Killed instantly by the mudslides, preservation began immediately.

University of California, Berkeley

There are three linked stories here: one is a prison-break, with the worst convicts imaginable trying to burrow out of a truly horrific prison – they are buried in the heart of an asteroid, and have to drill the rock to find water before the air supply runs out.

The Guardian - Books

To be sure, the best vehicles for taming the wildest winters are burly 4X4 pickup trucks and truck-based sport-utility vehicles equipped with low-range four-wheel-drive gearing that can help burrow out of the deepest snowdrifts and mud ruts.

Forbes

Some organisms survived the current, and attempted to burrow out of the sand that had been deposited above them; some unsuccessful attempts can be seen where juveniles were fossilised at the end of a burrow a few centimetres long.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They burrow out from beneath a huge heap of inflatable plastic sex dolls whose appendages and orifices manage to be both graphic and absurd.

Independent

"I catapulted myself over the wire on a giant rubber band, I burrowed out through the walls like one of the mites in the German cheese, I soared on home-made glider wings," he recalled.It was during one such spell, in the infamous Stalag Luft III, that he heard the sirens blare, marking the discovery of the ill-fated mass breakout known as the "Great Escape".

The Economist

After enough requests, Facebook burrowed out a bunch of offices in Building 17 of its headquarters, drilled giant support columns down to the bedrock to support the heavy machinery, and turned the space into a gleaming white, futuristic hack center.

TechCrunch

The other scientist comes out of her burrow, the third comes out of her burrow, and you actually talk...

Science Magazine

Out-of-burrow activity in N. virens is restricted to the hours of darkness, and activity away from the burrow entrance is concentrated in the period just after lights-off when feeding is greatest.

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Burrowing out of the crush of reporters was defensive back Royce Adams, Tebow's other locker neighbor.

The New York Times - Sports

But here, now, something came burrowing out of a white hole.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "burrow out of" to vividly describe an escape from a confined space, whether literal (like an animal escaping its den) or figurative (like escaping a difficult situation).

Common error

Avoid using "burrow out of" when a simpler verb like "escape" or "leave" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound overly descriptive or unnatural when a straightforward meaning is intended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "burrow out of" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of escaping or emerging from a confined space by digging or creating a tunnel. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples of usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

26%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science & Research

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "burrow out of" is a grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe escaping a confined space, often through digging. Ludwig AI confirms that its usage spans across various contexts, including news, science, and more informal settings. The phrase serves to vividly depict an escape or emergence, emphasizing effort and determination. While it's important to avoid overuse and consider simpler alternatives when appropriate, the phrase remains a useful and descriptive option in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tunnel out

Focuses on the creation of a tunnel as the means of escape, emphasizing the digging aspect.

dig oneself out

Highlights the effort involved in excavating a way out, with a personal reflexive pronoun.

excavate an escape

Emphasizes the methodical removal of material to create a means of exit.

carve a path out

Implies the creation of a route through something solid, emphasizing effort and direction.

escape through a tunnel

Directly states the method of escape as using a tunnel.

break through the earth

Highlights the act of penetrating the ground to emerge on the surface.

emerge from underground

Focuses on the act of coming out from below the surface.

surface from beneath

Emphasizes rising from under a covering or layer.

worm one's way out

Suggests a slow, wriggling movement to escape.

wriggle free

Implies a twisting, turning motion to get loose from confinement.

FAQs

How can I use "burrow out of" in a sentence?

You can use "burrow out of" to describe a physical escape, such as "The prisoner "burrowed out of" his cell through a tunnel", or a metaphorical escape, such as "She managed to "burrow out of" debt with careful budgeting".

What are some alternatives to "burrow out of"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "tunnel out of", "dig oneself out of", or simply "escape from".

Is it correct to say "burrow out from" instead of "burrow out of"?

"Burrow out of" is the more common and accepted phrasing. While "burrow out from" might be understood, it is less idiomatic and could sound awkward to native English speakers. Stick to "burrow out of" for clarity and naturalness.

What kind of subjects or contexts is "burrow out of" most appropriate for?

"Burrow out of" is most fitting when describing an escape that involves digging or creating a passage, either literally (animals, prisoners) or figuratively (difficult situations). For example, you could say the groundhog "burrowed out of" its den or a company "burrowed out of" a financial crisis.