Breaking and Entering
Definition:
"Breaking and entering" is a legal term that means to go into a building or property without permission, especially when someone uses force to get inside. This action usually involves a criminal purpose, such as stealing or causing harm.
Usage Instructions:
You can use "breaking and entering" when discussing a crime involving unauthorized access to a place. It is often used in legal contexts or when talking about crime in general.
Example:
"The police arrested the man for breaking and entering after they found him inside the house without the owner's permission."
Advanced Usage:
In legal discussions, "breaking and entering" is often mentioned when talking about different types of property crimes. It can be a serious offense, often associated with burglary.
Word Variants:
- Break: This verb means to forcefully separate or move apart.
- Enter: This verb means to go or come into a place.
Different Meanings:
While "breaking and entering" specifically refers to illegal entry, the individual words "breaking" and "entering" can have other meanings.
- "Breaking" can mean to separate something into pieces.
- "Entering" can mean to go into a place, not necessarily unlawfully.
Synonyms:
- Burglary (though this often implies theft) - Trespassing (though this can include entering without permission, not necessarily with the intent to commit a crime)
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
- Break in: This phrasal verb can mean to enter a place illegally (e.g., "Someone broke in while we were on vacation.").
- Break and enter: This is a variation of the term that can also be used interchangeably with "breaking and entering."
Summary:
"Breaking and entering" is a serious crime involving entering someone else’s property without permission, often using force and with the intent to commit another crime.