Breakout

Meaning

The idiom "breakout" refers to a sudden or unexpected event, occurrence, or development that becomes popular or well-known. It can also mean an escape from confinement or a sudden increase in something, such as sales or crime rates. The figurative meaning is often used to describe a breakthrough or a shift in the status quo.

Usage

• The new movie had a massive breakout at the box office, grossing over $200 million worldwide.
• After years of struggling with depression, John finally found the courage to seek help and had a breakthrough in his recovery process.
• The tech startup experienced a sudden breakout in their user base after launching a new feature that improved the user experience.
• The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a breakout in remote work and online learning.
• The crime rate spiked during the summer months, resulting in a breakout of violence in the city.

Roots and History

The idiom "breakout" has been used since at least the 16th century. It originally referred to breaking out of prison or confinement. Over time, the meaning evolved to include any sudden or unexpected event that becomes popular or well-known. The idiom gained popularity in the 20th century with the rise of mass media and the internet.

Synonyms in English

• Breakthrough
• Boom
• Surge
• Spike
• Explosion

Synonyms in other languages

• Japanese: "迷失" (mei shō) - meaning to lose one's way or get lost
• French: "éclat" - meaning a sudden brightness or shining forth
• German: "Ausbrechen" - meaning to break out or come into being suddenly
• Italian: "scoprire" - meaning to discover something unexpectedly
• Spanish: "escapar" - meaning to escape or get out of confinement

Similar Idioms

• bite tongue

• as a result

• rank and file