breaking and entering
54
5.6
- noun
- /ˈbreɪkɪŋ ənd ˈɛntərɪŋ/
- He almost let the police charge you both with breaking and entering.
- breaking and entering charges
- arrested for breaking and entering
- caught breaking and entering
Examples
-
On Wednesday, 266 arrests had been made on charges such as violation of curfew, breach of peace, attempted arson, breaking and entering, and loitering.
Academic text (1997) -
You are under arrest for breaking and entering!
-
At the very least, he might get arrested for breaking and entering.
Fiction book (1998) -
What's the minimum penalty for breaking and entering in this country?
Fiction book (1998) -
"What if somebody catches us?" she said. "Isn't this what they call breaking and entering?"
Fiction book (2002) -
"Marissa Blumenthal-Buchanan, you are hereby charged by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with breaking and entering.
Fiction book (1991) -
4:37 p.m. — Police responded to a reported breaking and entering of a motor vehicle on Diamond Road.
Blog text (25) -
The charges were home invasion, malicious destruction, breaking and entering, curfew violation, and theft of a vehicle (three counts).
Academic text (2000) -
The suspect is facing charges of breaking and entering after attempting to steal valuables from the house.
-
The judge emphasized that breaking and entering is a serious crime that can lead to severe penalties.
Synonyms
144
3.0
Entering a building without permission to steal things
113
3.9
An illegal entry into a building to steal or damage things
1
8.2
An illegal entry into a building to steal things or commit a crime
A sudden entry into a place by water or by someone forcing their way in
Antonyms
How Serious
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase transparently combines 'breaking' (forcing or damaging to gain access) and 'entering' (going into), so a learner who knows both words can infer someone has forced entry. However the expression has a fixed legal sense — a specific criminal offence usually implying unlawful entry with criminal intent — that goes beyond the literal components and may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without exposure.
Etymology
Breaking and entering comes from a simple, literal image: someone breaking a door or window and then entering a house or shop to steal or do harm. So, the phrase means 'to illegally enter a building to commit a crime'.