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"Break out" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "escaparse", and "go off" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "irse". Learn more about the difference between "break out" and "go off" below.
break out(
breyk
aut
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. escaparse
Somehow, my parrot managed to break out of his cage.De alguna manera, mi loro logró escaparse de su jaula.
b. fugarse
The soldier broke out of the prisoner camp by tunneling underneath the fence.El soldado se fugó del campamento de prisioneros haciendo un túnel por debajo de la valla.
c. salirse
The Beatles' success allowed them to experiment and break out of the mold.El éxito de los Beatles les permitió experimentar y salirse del molde.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Elisa started breaking out in hives from all the stress.A Elisa le empezaron a aparecer ronchas a causa del estrés.
That facial lotion you gave me made me break out really bad.Esa loción facial que me diste me hizo salir muchísimos granos.
b. dar
Luis broke out into a cold sweat when he saw the total on the restaurant bill.A Luis le dio un sudor frío cuando vio el total en la cuenta del restaurante.
a. estallar (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
A fight broke out just as the bar was closing.Estalló una pelea justo cuando estaban cerrando el bar.
b. desencadenarse
Civil war broke out after the death of the dictator.Tras la muerte del dictador se desencadenó la guerra civil.
c. desatarse
Clashes broke out between demonstrators and police during the night.Durante la noche, se desataron enfrentamientos entre los manifestantes y la policía.
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
4. (colloquial) (start using)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. sacar
At ten o'clock, they broke out the drums, and that's when the party really started.A las diez, sacaron los tambores, y fue entonces que se formó la rumba de verdad.
go off(
go
af
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
1. (to leave)
a. estallar
The fireworks go off every night at 9 pm at the amusement park.Los fuegos pirotécnicos estallan cada noche a las 9 pm en el parque de diversiones.
b. explotar
It looks like a bomb went off in the town after the fire.Pareciera como si una bomba hubiera estallado en el pueblo después del incendio.
c. dispararse
The gun went off while he was cleaning it and he shot himself in the foot.El rifle se disparó mientras lo estaba limpiando y se pegó un tiro en el pie.
a. sonar
The alarm clock went off at 6 am, but she didn't get out of bed until the sunlight came through the window.El despertador sonó a las 6 am, pero no se levantó hasta que la luz del sol entró por la ventana.
a. salir
I was worried that a fight might break out at last night's family dinner, but thankfully the party went off well.Estaba preocupado por si estallaba una pelea anoche en la cena familiar, pero afortunadamente salió bien.
a. apagarse
The heating went off in the storm and we're trying to get it back on.La calefacción se apagó durante la tormenta y estamos intentando volver a prenderla.
a. echarse a perder
Don't eat that fish. It smells like it's gone off.No comas ese pescado, huele a que se ha echado a perder.
b. pasarse
I wanted to make some juice, but the fruit had gone off.Quería hacer un vaso de jugo, pero la fruta se había pasado.
7. (to doze)
a. quedarse dormido
Stan works so hard in the mine that when he comes home, he eats dinner and then goes right off.Stan trabaja tan arduamente en la mina que cuando llega a casa, cena y enseguida se queda dormido.
a. pasarse
My backache finally went off a few hours ago, so I'm feeling much better.Se me pasó el dolor de espalda hace unas horas, así que me siento mucho mejor.
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. ya no gustar
Gary's gone off beer, but he still drinks wine.A Gary ya no le gusta la cerveza, pero todavía toma vino.
b. dejar de gustar
My son went off toys; now he likes video games.A mi hijo dejaron de gustarle los juguetes; ahora le gustan los videojuegos.
