house-breaking
Definition
Noun: - The act of entering a building illegally with intent to commit theft: "house-breaking" refers to the crime of forcing entry into a house or dwelling, typically during the day, to steal property. It is a specific form of burglary that involves breaking into a residence. - The practice of dismantling old buildings: In a less common usage, "house-breaking" can also mean the professional work of demolishing or taking apart old houses to salvage materials.
Usage Examples
- (Illegal entry into homes to steal.)
- (The crime of breaking into a residence.)
- (Dismantling old buildings for materials.)
Advanced Usage
"to commit house-breaking": to perform the act of illegal entry for theft.
- The gang committed several house-breakings during the summer months. (They carried out multiple burglaries.)
"house-breaking tools": tools used to force entry into a building.
- The police found house-breaking tools, such as crowbars and lock picks, in his car. (Instruments for breaking into houses.)
Variants and Related Words
Housebreaker (n): a person who commits house-breaking.
- The housebreaker was caught trying to escape through the back door. (A thief who breaks into houses.)
Housebreaking (adj): describing something related to the act of house-breaking.
- The housebreaking incident was reported to the local authorities. (The burglary event.)
Synonyms
- Burglary: the illegal entry into a building with intent to commit theft or other crime.
- Breaking and entering: the act of forcing entry into a property, often used interchangeably with house-breaking.
- Theft from a dwelling: a legal term for stealing from a home.
Related Idioms
- No specific idioms directly use "house-breaking", but the concept is often referred to in legal contexts as "burglary" or "breaking and entering."