they break out

USAGE SUMMARY

"they break out" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used in different contexts depending on the intended meaning. Here are a few examples: 1. "Every spring, the flowers break out in vibrant colors." (meaning: they bloom or burst forth) 2. "The prisoners managed to break out of their cells last night." (meaning: escape) 3. "As soon as the sun came out, the kids broke out their swimsuits and headed to the pool." (meaning: take out or bring something out) 4. "During the concert, the lead singer suddenly broke out into a solo." (meaning: begin suddenly) 5. "The disease started to break out in the village, causing panic among the locals." (meaning: spread rapidly) 6. "Whenever there's a full moon, my dog tends to break out into howls." (meaning: start doing something suddenly and unexpectedly).

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

They break out in song and dance spontaneously".

The New York Times

Afraid of foster care, they break out their shovels.

The New York Times - Books

Then they break out into an actual giggle fit.

The New Yorker

How do they break out in the final full week?

The New York Times

It's just a matter of time before they break out".

The New York Times - Sports

"Talk about ghetto, right?" says Armando, and they break out laughing.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

That night they broke out the Champagne.

The New York Times

They broke out whiskey bottles, and smoked tobacco pipes.

The New York Times

They cried, they smiled, they stood silent, they broke out in spontaneous applause; the Leicester fans.

The Times

Some said they broke out in rashes and lost their hair, CNN reported.

The Washington Post

In unison, they broke out in tears; they had just made new friends and were starting to fit in again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they break out" to describe sudden or unexpected occurrences, such as a rash, a fight, or applause. Ensure the context clearly indicates who "they" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "they break out" when the pronoun "they" lacks a clear antecedent. Always ensure the subject is explicitly defined to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they break out" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "they" serves as the subject pronoun and "break out" is a phrasal verb. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates a sudden or forceful commencement of an action, event, or condition. The examples from Ludwig show it used in various contexts from escaping to starting an activity suddenly.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they break out" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe sudden occurrences or actions. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it conveys spontaneity or unexpectedness. Related phrases include "they erupt" and "they burst forth", each subtly altering the emphasis. When using "they break out", ensure the pronoun "they" has a clear antecedent to avoid ambiguity and to enhance clarity and precision in writing. It's also important to ensure to pick an alternative that better captures the meaning you would like to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they erupt

Focuses on a sudden and forceful release or outburst.

they burst forth

Implies a vigorous and energetic emergence or display.

they begin spontaneously

Underscores the unprompted and natural initiation of an action.

they commence suddenly

Emphasizes the abrupt start of an action or event.

they suddenly emerge

Highlights an unexpected appearance or rise.

they start abruptly

Highlights the unexpected beginning of something.

they flare up

Indicates a sudden increase in intensity or activity.

they issue forth

Suggests a formal or significant release or emanation.

they set out

Signifies a formal start or initiation of journey.

they initiate unexpectedly

Highlights starting something without any planning.

FAQs

What does "they break out" mean?

The phrase "they break out" has several meanings depending on the context. It can mean to escape, to suddenly start doing something, or to develop a skin rash.

How can I use "they break out" in a sentence?

You can use "they break out" to describe a sudden occurrence. For example, "they break out laughing" or "they break out in rashes".

What can I say instead of "they break out"?

Alternatives to "they break out" include "they erupt", "they start abruptly", or "they burst forth", depending on the intended meaning.

Is "they broke out" the past tense of "they break out"?

Yes, "they broke out" is the past tense of "they break out". For example, "they broke out in tears" indicates that the action of breaking out in tears happened in the past.