Meaning
to succeed in penetrating or overcoming an obstacle or barrier
Primary Function
intransitive phrasal verb expressing achievement after overcoming difficulty
Communicative Purpose
to signal a significant accomplishment or resolution after facing barriers (e.g., scientific discovery, social change)
Pattern
break through
Core Structure
break through
Função primária
intransitive phrasal verb expressing achievement after overcoming difficulty
Propósito comunicativo
to signal a significant accomplishment or resolution after facing barriers (e.g., scientific discovery, social change)
Situações de gatilho
research setbacks resolved, political negotiations reaching agreement, personal limits surmounted
Contextos
professional settings such as labs and business meetings, academic papers discussing discoveries, everyday language to express triumph over challenges
Padrão
break through
Estrutura central
break through
Slots de substituição
glass ceiling, enemy lines, noise
Colocados típicos
- manage to
- finally
- breakthroughs
Substituições comuns
- overcome
- penetrate
- pierce
- burst through
Erros comuns
mistaking ‘breakthrough’ as two separate words instead of one phrase; using it where only transitive usage is needed
Similar / contraste
overcome, push through, get past
Interferências
Learners may try to translate the phrase literally into their native language, resulting in unnatural expressions (e.g., French speakers might say 'casser à travers' which is not idiomatic).
Família do chunk
- break down
- break in
- break up
- break through
Nuance
Can be used both literally (physically breaking through a barrier) and figuratively (overcoming obstacles); slightly informal but acceptable in formal contexts.
Efeito pragmático
Conveys determination and success in overcoming difficulty.
Dica de memória
break a wall
Nota
This phrasal verb can be used both intransitively and transitively, depending on the context.
Upgrade path
overcome
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