Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to barge in

to barge in

59 5.5
Enter a room or conversation suddenly and rudely without being invited
  • phrasal verb
  • /bɑrdʒ ɪn/
  • Informal
translation icon : entrar sin avisar
  • I'm sorry to barge in on you like this, Mr. Sacks.
  • sorry to barge in
  • barge in unannounced
  • just barge in

Yeah, Wes barges in sometimes still, but it's, you know, we try and, like, give each other some privacy, both from us and from the kids.

Examples

Synonyms

to intrude
vsto barge in
105 4.4

To go into a place or conversation where you are not welcome

adds abruptness and blunt rudeness when joining people or talk
to crash
vsto barge in
  • Informal
52 7.3

To enter an event without permission, for example without an invitation

is more about rude sudden joining rather than just attendance
to barge
vsto barge in
  • Informal
42 6.0

To force your way into a place or conversation without permission

adds sudden rudeness and joining a conversation as well
to rush in
vsto barge in
36 3.1

Act quickly without thinking, for example by going into a place

is similar but focuses more on rude, intrusive behaviour
to break in
vsto barge in
30 3.4

To interrupt a conversation or activity without being invited

is more sudden and commonly more physically rude in arrival
to intrude on
vsto barge in
22 4.6

To go into someone's space or life without permission

is more sudden and explicitly rude when joining conversations
to burst in
vsto barge in
21 3.3

To enter a room suddenly and interrupt people

is similar but adds a rude, pushing physical manner
to butt in
vsto barge in
  • Informal
21 4.4

Interrupt someone who is speaking without being invited

is similar but often involves a blunter, ruder entrance
to cut in
vsto barge in
6 3.5

Interrupt someone who is speaking or doing something

is more physical and rude, not only an interruption of speech
to horn in
vsto barge in
  • Informal
5 8.2

To join a conversation or activity without being invited

is similar but more sudden and physically rude in approach
to push in
vsto barge in
  • UK
5 5.6

To join a line or enter a place without waiting your turn

is similar but emphasizes sudden, rude interruption rather than queueing
to burst in on
vsto barge in
3 5.2

Go into a room or conversation suddenly and interrupt people

is similar but often involves rudeness and forceful joining
to shoulder in
vsto barge in
1 7.2

To push into a crowd or group using your body to get ahead

matches forceful entry but is also rude when joining talk
to show up uninvited
vsto barge in
1 4.2

Arrive somewhere without being invited

is like that but emphasizes rude sudden joining of people or talk
to poke one's nose into
vsto barge in
  • Informal
1 7.3

To try to take part in other people's business without being asked

is more about blunt, rude entering rather than nosy interference
to gate-crash
vsto barge in
  • UK
1 6.8

To go into a party or event without an invitation

focuses more on impolite sudden arrival into conversations or groups
to bum rush
vsto barge in
  • Informal
1 9.6

To push into a place quickly and forcefully as a crowd

shares sudden force but usually implies a single rude person
to chisel in
vsto barge in
  • Informal
7.7

Interrupt someone who is speaking by joining their conversation without waiting

is similar but usually carries a stronger sense of rudeness

Antonyms

to slip out
39 3.8

To leave a place quietly without anyone noticing

How Rude

to storm
102 5.7
to barge in
  • Informal
59 5.5
to butt in
  • Informal
21 4.4
to enter
∞ 1.0
to slip in
19 4.4

Surface Forms

barge in infinitive
barge in past
barge in past participle
barging in present participle
barges in third person singular

Morphology

barge + in

The meaning is directly compositional from 'barge' (to forcefully or rudely intrude) plus the directional 'in' (into), so the sense of entering rudely is transparently derived from the parts. This motion/entry construction is a straightforward combination that a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand.

Etymology

The phrasal verb barge in comes from the image of a big, heavy boat, a barge, forcing its way in to a narrow place and pushing people aside. That's why barge in means 'to enter without being invited'.