ENGLISH
REFERENCE

break out in

phr. v..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to suddenly have marks, spots, or sweat appear on your skin.

phr. v.. to be suddenly affected by a skin condition, rash, or perspiration; typically used with a non-agentive subject.


SIMPLE

I break out in a rash if I eat strawberries.

CONTEXTUAL

The nervous speaker began to break out in a cold sweat just before the presentation started.

COMPLEX

Medical professionals observed that patients would frequently break out in hives shortly after the administration of the experimental drug.

Particles
out in
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
break + out + in + object
Usage

usually followed by a noun describing a skin condition or sweat.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'break out' (to escape or to start suddenly, like a war); this three-part version is specifically for bodily or skin reactions.

Pitfall

He broke out in to a sweat.He broke out in a sweat.the preposition is 'in', not 'into', when describing the appearance of a skin condition or sweat.

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