to break open
2
4.7
- phrasal verb
- /breɪk ˈoʊpən/
:
estallar
- Glenn Reeves was at Palo Alto tonight to watch Serra break open a 28-28 halftime tie en route to a big victory over the Vikings.
- broke open a close game
First of all, how did the case break open and lead to Sean Cattle eight years later?
- First of all, how did the case break open and lead to Sean Cattle eight years later?
- Indeed, in such a way that in and through this eruption, beings break open and show what they are and how they are.
- This is one of those that I think many people kind of shelve in a part of their psyche that does not get, you know, broken open.
- Because through all those challenges, that's parts of yourself that you're breaking open so that you can re heal.
- And right at that time period, Desert Shield and Desert Storm kind of broke open.
- Rigid against tribulation, striven against death, broken open against life.
Examples
-
It broke open a relatively close game, and Jacksonville never recovered.
Blog text (29) -
And while the movie helped humanize the trauma, it broke open the door to what could be talked about on TV.
Blog text (5) -
I had to go back and really break open that scar and let it bleed.
-
It was one of those moments when you start to grow up, when your little microcosm is broken open by a truth too hard to forget, too real to ignore.
Blog text (29) -
After heading into the half 3-3, Harvard broke open a 10-point lead with an early field goal and then took a 13-3 advantage when Chapple looked left and then broke right, outrunning a pair of rushers to turn the corner and head into the end zone.
Blog text (6) -
A game that was 3-3 at halftime broke open in the second, as emergency Yale quarterback Henry Furman, who's on the roster as a wide receiver, led the Elis to three second-half touchdowns.
Blog text (6) -
The news of the scandal finally broke open during the heated debate.
-
After years of tension, their arguments suddenly broke open, revealing deep-seated emotions.
-
During the therapy session, her memories broke open, leading to an intense discussion about her past.
Synonyms
187
3.5
To suddenly show a strong feeling, often anger
164
1.4
Break open suddenly because of pressure inside
123
4.2
To suddenly start in a strong or violent way, often showing strong feeling
51
4.4
To become suddenly more intense, often about anger or violence
50
4.0
Suddenly start making a sound, like singing, laughing or crying
24
2.4
To suddenly cry because of a strong feeling
23
3.8
Begin suddenly in a violent or noisy way
23
4.7
To become suddenly stronger or worse, often for a short time
16
4.7
To suddenly become very angry and lose control
9
3.3
Suddenly say something or make a loud sound
5
5.4
Suddenly start to happen with a lot of energy
1
6.1
Suddenly appear in a place or in someone's mind and surprise people
1
7.4
To suddenly become very angry
1
8.1
To suddenly say something angry without warning
1
8.6
To suddenly become very angry and lose control
To become very angry or upset in a way people notice
Antonyms
How Intense
579
2.8
23
4.7
2
4.7
123
4.2
19
3.7
143
3.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense of something being forced apart or made accessible is directly related to 'break' (to separate by force) + 'open' (to make open), so the core idea of a sudden forcible change is predictable from the constituents. However, the extension to abstract domains (emotions, conflicts) and the specific nuance 'erupt or intensify suddenly' is metaphorical and may not be fully inferable by a B1 learner without prior exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Break open can also describe feelings or fights; imagine a dam that breaks and the water suddenly rushes out. That's why it can mean 'to erupt' or 'to burst out' quickly.