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Glite Dictionary
to butt in

to butt in

21 4.4
Interrupt someone who is speaking without being invited
  • phrasal verb
  • /bʌt ɪn/
  • Informal
translation icon : interrumpir
  • Mind if I butt in?
  • sorry to butt in
  • Mind if I butt in
  • want to butt in

And I was like, well, let me butt in and say that is true.

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Examples

Synonyms

to interfere
vsto butt in
487 3.5

To get involved in a situation and make things not work as they should

is specifically about joining conversations or activities without being invited
to intrude
vsto butt in
105 4.4

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

is narrower, mainly about joining conversations or activities without invite
to barge in
vsto butt in
  • Informal
59 5.5

Enter a room or conversation suddenly and rudely without being invited

is like that but often used for speaking rather than entering
to put in
vsto butt in
54 3.8

Interrupt a conversation to make a short comment or question

is more about entering without being invited rather than polite input
to chime in
vsto butt in
  • Informal
40 4.3

To make a short comment during a conversation

is usually more intrusive or unwelcome than a friendly contribution
to break in
vsto butt in
30 3.4

To interrupt a conversation or activity without being invited

is similar but often less forceful or physical in joining
to intrude on
vsto butt in
22 4.6

To go into someone's space or life without permission

is focused specifically on joining conversations or activities uninvited
to burst in
vsto butt in
21 3.3

To enter a room suddenly and interrupt people

is similar yet commonly used for talking rather than physical entry
to move in on
vsto butt in
8 6.3

To start taking control of a business or area without being invited

is more about a brief verbal intrusion than taking control
to cut in
vsto butt in
6 3.5

Interrupt someone who is speaking or doing something

is more about joining without permission rather than brief comment
to horn in
vsto butt in
  • Informal
5 8.2

To join a conversation or activity without being invited

is similar but emphasizes speech or short joining rather than meddling
to push in
vsto butt in
  • UK
5 5.6

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

is about speaking or joining activities without invitation rather than queues
to burst in on
vsto butt in
3 5.2

Go into a room or conversation suddenly and interrupt people

covers the same unwelcome joining but can be less sudden
to shoulder in
vsto butt in
1 7.2

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

is the nonphysical act of joining or interrupting without invitation
to poke one's nose into
vsto butt in
  • Informal
1 7.3

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

is focused on spoken joining rather than general personal interference
to stick one's nose into
vsto butt in
  • UK
1 7.9

To get involved in other people's business without being asked

is about joining conversations or activities, not general private matters
to stick your nose into
vsto butt in
  • Informal
1 8.0

To get involved in other people's business when not wanted

is similar but typically applies to short conversational intrusions
to chisel in
vsto butt in
  • Informal
7.7

Interrupt someone who is speaking by joining their conversation without waiting

is the general act of joining uninvited without implying bluntness
to stick one's oar in
vsto butt in
  • Informal
8.6

To get involved in other people's business when they do not ask for help

is narrower, mainly about interrupting talks or activities directly

How Intrusive

to barge in
  • Informal
59 5.5
to butt in
  • Informal
21 4.4
to interrupt
909 2.5
to cut in
6 3.5

Surface Forms

butt in infinitive
butted in past
butted in past participle
butting in present participle
butts in third person singular

Morphology

butt + in

The sense 'to interrupt or intrude' can be derived from combining a verb sense of 'butt' (to push or thrust, as with the head) with 'in' (into), so the idea of pushing into a conversation is metaphorically coherent. However, this requires knowledge of 'butt' as a verb and a metaphorical extension, which may not be immediately obvious to all B1 learners, so the relation is partial rather than fully transparent.

Etymology

The phrasal verb butt in comes from the image of an animal, like a goat, butting with its head to push in among others. That's why when someone butts in they push into a conversation or activity and 'interrupt' others.