break into vs break down

Both "break into" and "break down" are correct phrases, but they have different meanings and usage. "Break into" is used to describe forcibly entering a place, while "break down" is used to describe something collapsing or failing. They are not interchangeable as they convey different actions.

Last updated: March 17, 2024 • 787 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"break into"

This phrase is used to describe forcibly entering a place, such as a building or a car. It can also be used metaphorically to describe starting something, like a new career or market.

Examples:

The thieves tried to break into the house last night.
She managed to break into the competitive industry with her innovative ideas.
The hackers attempted to break into the company's database.
The detective needed to break into the suspect's alibi.
He finally decided to break into the music industry.

Show examples from the web [+]

Stanzler had me break into your estate and steal the video.
He tried to break into my house.
Tommy tried to break into my safe.
Tryin' to break into an armored truck.
Someone tried to break into Michael's locker yesterday, matching the description of Clifton Cartwright.
And now you're teaching me how to break into cars.
Small-time thief I hired to break into your safe.
There are people trying to break into my house.
Anyway, you said your vault's impossible to break into.
Then we need you to break into her house.
Generous export incentives have helped firms break into competitive global markets.
He-he threatened to break into my office.
Three nights ago they tried to break into the Tyrell Corporation.
We do know that he wanted us to break into Red Star.
So find your partners and break into groups of four.
You can use that to break into the system.
I think Kevin will break into the restaurant tonight.
You can't just break into Langdon Carmichael's house.
You break into places for clients?
That's why she had to break into the government office.

Alternatives:

force entry into
intrude into
penetrate
gain access to
enter forcibly

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"break down"

This phrase is used to describe something collapsing, failing, or disintegrating. It can also refer to analyzing or explaining something in detail.

Examples:

The old bridge started to break down due to years of neglect.
Her car broke down on the highway.
The negotiations broke down when they couldn't reach an agreement.
I had to break down the complex topic into simpler terms for the students.
The team will break down the project into smaller tasks.

Show examples from the web [+]

We could even break down the whole partition.
When talking about those reasons, let's break down certain preconceptions.
Some networks can sometimes break down.
Especially if it will help break down the social barriers between capital and labour.
The field of intelligence employs analysts to break down and understand a wide array of questions.
Without good communication, relationships break down.
James gave me a ride after he saw my car break down.
We had to break down the door.
High-end vehicles like these break down a lot in the desert.
They're using some kind of disruptor to break down the force field.
So, theoretically by using infrasound waves we could break down their particle structure.
UV-C radiation is able to break down chemical bonds.
The fibrinolytic system then functions to break down fibrinogen and fibrin.
The lactase enzyme has two active sites which break down lactose.
Psychologists have theorized that humans mentally break down images into simple geometric shapes called geons.
Catabolism is the set of metabolic processes that break down large molecules.
Click on a molecule and it will break down to atoms, which themselves will break down other molecules on impact.
Estranged husband tries to break down the door.
Carbohydrates break down into glucose molecules.
This cell casing is already beginning to break down.

Alternatives:

collapse
fail
disintegrate
analyze in detail
explain thoroughly

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break into vs break down

"break into"

"break down"

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