to horn in
5
8.2
- phrasal verb
- /hɔrn ɪn/
- Informal
:
interrumpir
- I wish he would stop trying to horn in on my plans; it's really annoying.
- try to horn in
- want anyone horning in
- horn in on your action
Examples
-
You're trying to horn in on my source.
-
Quit trying to horn in on my date.
-
But no, you had to horn in.
-
You thought you saw something big and you tried to horn in.
-
You are trying to horn in on my action, aren't you?
-
Both sides did try to horn in on the verification process.
Blog text (3) -
Hey, I hate to horn in on your beautiful moment, but in case you haven't noticed, it's getting dark.
-
Should we let this guy horn in on our new virus, Owi?
Fiction book (1995) -
And old Dennis, who couldn't leave town with his three mil had to horn in on the action.
-
He was with a couple of so-so-looking women, and the first expression that crossed his face was resentment; he didn't want anyone horning in on whatever territory he'd gained with these two.
Fiction book (1992)
Synonyms
487
3.5
To get involved in a situation and make things not work as they should
105
4.4
To go into a place or conversation where you are not welcome
77
4.1
To enter someone's space or private life without permission
59
5.5
Enter a room or conversation suddenly and rudely without being invited
30
3.4
To interrupt a conversation or activity without being invited
27
7.3
To gradually move into someone else's area, space, or rights without permission
22
4.6
To go into someone's space or life without permission
21
3.3
To enter a room suddenly and interrupt people
21
4.4
Interrupt someone who is speaking without being invited
6
7.7
To force someone or something into a space that is too small
4
6.6
Make someone angry by doing their job or making decisions for them
3
5.2
Go into a room or conversation suddenly and interrupt people
2
6.8
To gradually move into someone's personal space, rights or privacy
1
7.3
To try to take part in other people's business without being asked
1
7.9
To get involved in other people's business without being asked
1
8.0
To get involved in other people's business when not wanted
1
9.1
Push yourself into a place or conversation when people do not want you
Interrupt someone who is speaking by joining their conversation without waiting
To get involved in other people's business when they do not ask for help
To become involved in a messy situation and make it worse
Antonyms
How Intrusive
- Informal
59
5.5
- Informal
5
8.2
909
2.5
105
4.4
80
5.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
horn + in
Although 'horn' has a literal sense (a projecting or pushing object) and 'in' indicates entering, the sense 'to intrude' is a metaphorical extension rather than a direct compositional meaning. This figurative mapping (like 'butt in') is not immediately predictable for a B1 learner who merely knows the constituent meanings, so the phrase is partially but not fully transparent.
Etymology
Horn in may come from the image of an animal using its horn to push its way in to a group or place. So today horn in means 'to intrude' or 'to interfere' with something that is not yours.