Outbreak

Meaning

The idiom "outbreak" refers to the sudden occurrence of a disease, illness, or disaster. It can also refer to a sudden spike or surge in something, such as violence or crime.

Usage

• The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused widespread panic across the country.
• There was an outbreak of flu at the school last week.
• The city experienced a violent outbreak yesterday evening.
• After years of low cases, there has been a recent outbreak of measles in the area.
• The company had to shut down temporarily due to an outbreak of food poisoning. The usage of the idiom "outbreak" can vary depending on the context. For example, it can be used to describe a sudden occurrence of a physical illness or disease, but it can also be used to refer to a sudden surge in something like violence or crime.

Roots and History

The word "outbreak" comes from the Old French word "broue," which means "mud" or "swamp." It has been used since the 13th century to describe a sudden occurrence of something, such as a disease or disaster. In modern times, the idiom has come to be most commonly associated with outbreaks of infectious diseases like COVID-19 and measles.

Synonyms in English

• Epidemic
• Outburst
• Spike
• Surge
• Flare-up

Synonyms in other languages

• Epidémie (French)
• Ausbruch (German)
• epidemio (Portuguese)
• epidemiografiska utbrott (Swedish)
• epidémie (Arabic)

Similar Idioms

• out of the closet

• out of one’s depth

• on edge