break through
phrasal verb·3 senses·particle through
Meanings
Cut into a broadcast or transmission
Why “through”? A call or message moves through a line and reaches someone. You connect, make contact, or make the idea clear.
“The news broke through during the show.”
“A weather warning broke through during the match.”
Force a way through an obstacle or barrier
Why “through”? Movement goes from one side to the other.
“The protesters broke through the police line.”
“The runners broke through the tape at the finish.”
“The sun finally broke through the clouds.”
Achieve success after a period of effort
Why “through”? You start a task and keep going to the end. You finish the whole thing.
“She broke through after years of work.”
“The young singer broke through with one song.”
Don't confuse with
Break through means cut into a broadcast or transmission. Break away means escape from someone holding you.
Test yourself
“The news broke through during the show.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
break away
A contrast learners often mix up
Escape from someone holding you; Leave a group to form a separate one; Pull ahead of others in a race
be through
Same through pattern: finishing
Have finished something
carry through
Same through pattern: finishing
Complete what was promised
come through
Same through pattern: passage
Pass through to arrive on the other side; Survive a difficult or dangerous experience; Do what was expected or hoped for; Arrive at its destination, especially a message or call
cut through
Same through pattern: passage
Take a shortcut across
drive through
Same through pattern: passage
Cross by car or other vehicle
fall through
Same through pattern: finishing
Fail to happen or be completed
follow through
Same through pattern: finishing
Carry an action to its proper conclusion
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