Phrasal verb
break out in
Definition
phrasal verb. to suddenly have marks, spots, or sweat appear on your skin.
phrasal verb. to be suddenly affected by a skin condition, rash, or perspiration; typically used with a non-agentive subject.
Examples
“I break out in a rash if I eat strawberries.”
“The nervous speaker began to break out in a cold sweat just before the presentation started.”
“Medical professionals observed that patients would frequently break out in hives shortly after the administration of the experimental drug.”
Examples
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.”
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.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out in
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
break + out + in + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/break-out-in