ENGLISH
REFERENCE

butt in

idiom
Meaning

To join a conversation or situation in which one is not welcome or invited; to interject (connotes a rude or discourteous interruption).


Examples
SIMPLE

Please don't butt in while I'm talking.

CONTEXTUAL

He always tries to butt in when other people are having a private conversation.

COMPLEX

The meeting had been tense and formal until a junior manager, unable to restrain himself, butted in with a question that changed everything.

Anchors to
Related idioms7entries
  1. 01

    bust one's butt

    To work exceptionally hard.

  2. 02

    butt heads

    To argue uncompromisingly.

  3. 03

    butt up

    To touch closely, to scrape (against); to press firmly (against).

  4. 04

    full butt

    headfirst with full force

  5. 05

    get one's butt somewhere

    Go somewhere, especially quickly.

  6. 06

    kick butt

    To be impressive; to be decisively good or pleasant.

  7. 07

    show one's butt

    To misbehave or act defiantly.

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